Oral Hygiene

Effective teeth care through superior oral hygiene

Fresh breath

There are several reasons why we get bad breath. The mouth is full of bacteria which release nasty toxins called Volatile Sulphur compounds. Brushing the tongue daily is the most effective way to reduce mouth odour. Remember saliva causes soft plaque to turn into hard calculus. A dirty mouth always smells bad. Mouthwash will slow plaque growth down but will NOT remove plaque from the tooth surface. Bad breath is also worse when you have a cold and blocked sinuses. If you are in the habit of sniffing and then swallowing, mucous will seep down at the back of your mouth which may cause halitosis.

Dairy products can cause bad breath too. Chew sugar-free gum to mask any remaining odour.

What causes sensitivity?

Teeth can be painful for many reasons. Decay or trauma are obvious causes, and should be treated by a dentist immediately. However, some sensitivity is caused by root exposure. If gum levels shrink down to expose the underlying root surface, cold and general friction can cause pain. This is known as Dentine Hypersensitivity. The root surface has natural micro sized tube-like holes which run from the surface of the tooth to the inner chamber, where the dental nerve is. A bit like a mine shaft if you like. Sensitive toothpaste is very good at plugging up the tubules and stopping the nerve impulse reaction.

Often people with advanced gum disease have a lot of gum recession and root exposure. Sensitive toothpaste should be used continuously, like medication for prolonged relief.

Brushing gums properly

Firstly, the upper and lower teeth should be brushed separately, not with an up and down scrubbing action. (if you brush like this you will miss the crevice around the gums). As mentioned before, the lips, cheeks and tongue are major obstacles in the effort to reach the gum line.

I suggest you start at the hardest to reach place first i.e. the lower, inside (tongue side) molars, at the back of your mouth. Try to place the brush head half on the gum and half on the tooth. This is actually a very small area but you should be able to feel the bristles on the gum. Please scrub hard! Your tongue has a mind of its own and you will fight the toothbrush without realising. If you gag, I'm afraid you will just have to try again. This is why a small head is the best choice. Rotary brushes are excellent because you never scrub with them, you just press and hold as the battery does the work for you. When brushing the inside of the FRONT teeth hold a manual toothbrush vertically and scrub really hard. Lingual calculus forms very easily here because most people simply don't brush hard enough.

PLEASE NOTE many people are scared of over brushing and causing gum recession. Gum recession is caused by factors such as the thickness of the alveolar bone and the body's natural susceptibility to inflammation. If a person brushes timidly for fear of recession, this is more likely to happen in the long run anyway. As the great saying goes "It is better to be long in the tooth, than to have teeth no longer". Most recession occurs on the outer surfaces of the gums (side which touches the lips) and I suggest you use small circular movements on these surfaces. Try to angle the manual brush at 45 degrees to the gum margin.

When brushing the upper molars keep your mouth relaxed. Your jaw muscles have 4 sets of muscles. 2 of these muscles open and close the mouth. If you open too wide or clench too tight there will be no room for the toothbrush. Try it for yourself; put the brush by your upper molars and open your mouth wide. I guarantee you will struggle to reach the gum line. Then clench your teeth tight, you will feel the other muscles working. Most people don't think about what they are doing when they brush. It is a good idea to watch in the mirror and ask yourself "Am I reaching my gums?" If you aren't, then your mouth will still be dirty.

So to recap, I scrub the inside surfaces of the gums and circulate on the outside surfaces of the gums, always top and bottom teeth separately. I hope this is helpful.

DO NOT AVOID BLEEDING GUMS..... THEY ARE UNHEALTHY!

Interdental cleaning

Inter-dental products can be an ideal alternative or supplement to flossing. Mini wire brushes or silicone sticks are perfectly good. When choosing the correct size, you need to use the largest size which will comfortably pass through the spaces. Your Hygienist will be able to tell you the correct sizes at your appointment. Too big and it will hurt, too small and plaque will be left behind.

What really matters is that you commit to using them every day.

Remember, you can't stop plaque from growing, all you can do is remove it!

Waterpik and Interdental Cleaning

If you find flossing the conventional way difficult, then click on link to learn more about water flossing technology.

Flossing is often harder than it need be because people don't know the correct method. Well here it is:

Wind a long piece of floss (30 cm) around both MIDDLE fingers NOT index fingers. Ever wondered why you can't reach the molars at the back? Index fingers floss ALL the lower teeth and need to be free to push the floss to the back molar teeth. When flossing upper teeth, you use a thumb and index finger.

The important thing is this: the middle fingers keep the floss taught, so you can pass it through the tight spaces between the teeth and gums.

Floss is meant to be scraped down the tooth surface, under the gum as far as is comfortable, and then up again. If it pinches you have reached the gum ligament and should stop. The triangular shape of gum should be cleaned both sides of their adjacent teeth. It is recommended that you floss daily because plaque only takes 2-3 days to mature and cause inflammation.

Regular dental hygiene check-ups are important for you. Get the right professional help,
call Lucy Reed Dental Hygiene in Cardiff on 029 2056 7824

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