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PROGRAM
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We are your local Dellwood MN Dentist – we are happy to serve our community for over 20 years!
Our Qualified Dentists
We offer a number of general and specialized dentistry options to suit all ages and needs:
- Family & General Dentistry
- Cleanings & Prevention
- Dental Exams
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Periodontal Disease
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Invisalign® & Braces
- Botox®
- Restorations
- Dental Implants
- Professional Teeth Whitening
- Orthodontics
- Periodontics
- Root Canal Therapy
- Healthy Smile Program
- Laser Dentistry
651-429-0404
How To Brush and Floss Properly
Brushing and flossing are of paramount importance to oral hygiene. Twice-yearly professional dental cleanings remove plaque, tartar, and debris from teeth, but excellent homecare methods are equally valuable. Proper brushing and flossing can enhance the health of your mouth, make your smile sparkle and prevent serious diseases.
Reasons why proper brushing and flossing are essential:
- Prevention of tooth decay – Tooth decay is a common cause of tooth loss and often requires complex dental procedures to treat. Tooth decay occurs when plaque, which is made up of acid and bacteria, erodes the natural enamel found on your teeth. This can be prevented by practicing good home hygiene methods.
- Prevention of periodontal disease – Periodontal disease is a serious, progressive condition that can lead to tooth loss, gum recession, and jawbone recession. It’s caused by the toxins found in plaque. Removing plaque and calculus (tartar) from your teeth using a toothbrush, and from interdental areas using dental floss, is an excellent way to stave off periodontal problems.
- Prevention of halitosis – Bad breath, or halitosis, can be caused by old food particles on or between the teeth. These food particles can be removed with regular brushing and flossing; leaving your mouth healthier and smelling fresher.
- Prevention of staining – The yellowing of teeth can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including smoking, coffee and tea. The more regularly these staining agents are removed from the teeth using brushing and flossing techniques, the less likely it is that they will become permanent.
The Proper Way to Brush
To ensure good oral hygiene, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day. The best toothbrush is small in size with soft, rounded-end bristles and no more than three months old. The head of the brush needs to be small enough to access all areas of the mouth and the bristles should be soft enough so as not to cause undue damage to gum tissue. The American Dental Association (ADA) has given electric toothbrushes their seal of approval; stating that those with rotating or oscillating heads are more effective than other toothbrushes.
Here is a basic guide to proper brushing:
- Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet.
- Use small circular motions to gently brush the gumline and teeth.
- Do not scrub or apply too much pressure to the teeth, as this can damage the gums and tooth enamel.
- Brush every surface of every tooth, cheek-side, tongue-side, and chewing surfaces. Place special emphasis on the surfaces of the back teeth.
- Use back and forth strokes to brush the chewing surfaces.
- Brush the tongue to remove fungi, food and debris.
Dellwood MN Dentist
The Proper Way to Floss
Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from between your teeth. It’s especially important for preventing gum disease and limiting the depth of your gum pockets. The interdental regions are difficult to reach with a toothbrush, so you should floss these areas daily.
Here is a basic guide to proper flossing:
- Cut a piece of floss to around 18 inches long.
- Wrap one end of the floss around the middle finger of the left hand and the other end around the middle finger of the right hand until the hands are 2-3 inches apart.
- Work the floss gently between the teeth toward the gum line.
- Curve the floss in a U-shape around each individual tooth and carefully slide it beneath the gum line.
- Carefully move the floss up and down several times to remove interdental plaque and debris.
- Do not pop the floss in and out between the teeth as this will inflame and cut the gums.
Waterpik® Water Flosser
Waterpik® Water Flossers are a great way to clean and floss your teeth. They can be more effective than traditional flossing methods, because they use a pressurized stream of water to clear away plaque, bacteria and food particles in your mouth. They’re especially useful for people who have braces, dental crowns or bridgework because it helps to clean areas that are normally difficult to brush or floss.
Some of the benefits of using a Waterpik water flosser include:
- It removes plaque, food, and bacteria even from tight spaces in between your teeth.
- It allows you to clean hard-to-reach areas.
- It makes flossing your teeth easy.
If you have any questions about the correct way to brush or floss, please ask your dentist or dental hygienist.
CONTACT DETAILS
4641 WHITE BEAR PARKWAY, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110
DDS1@BIRCHLAKEDENTAL.COM
651-429-0404