Dental Hygiene

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Do You Know How To Brush Your Teeth? Silly Question? Not Really!

By Jacqueline Fulop-Goodling, D.M.D.

It is absolutely amazing how many patients have no idea how to brush their teeth. I am always surprised by this huge number--as many as 75 percent--because improper brushing can result in as much damage to your teeth and gums as not brushing at all.

Everyone should brush his or her teeth three times a day: in the morning, in the afternoon and before going to sleep. The proper way to brush your teeth is at a 45 degree angle holding the bristles toward the gums.

The most important time to brush is before going to sleep because the body does not produce enough saliva to fight against the sugars in their mouth. All bodily functions slow down while sleeping; therefore, bacteria grows rapidly, causing cavities and infection.

Dental Hygiene - Toothbrushes

There are many types of toothbrushes on the market today, including electric, ultrasonic, ionic, and the "normal/standard" toothbrushes most patients use. Mechanical toothbrushes tend to be better than a standard one if used correctly. My advice to patients is that they bring in their toothbrushes, and I will explain the proper use of each particular type of toothbrush.

The toothbrush should be soft bristled, regardless of size or shape. Don't believe all the hype. Fancy shaped toothbrushes work the same way as any other type of toothbrush on the market. It all boils down to how thoroughly patients brush and in what way they brush.

Dental Hygiene - Toothpaste

I recommend anti-plaque, high fluoride toothpaste containing little or no abrasives. Abrasives wear out the enamel in teeth, which may look sparkly white but may be unhealthy. As far as gel or paste toothpaste, that is a matter of personal preference.

Patients with poor gums are advised to use toothpaste containing baking soda and peroxide.

Dental Hygiene - Dental Floss

Theoretically, flossing should be done daily. Unfortunately, most people floss three or four times weekly. Flossing at night is very important to reach food particles which have remained in the mouth after eating all day.

Dental Hygiene - Tooth Whitening

Myth has it that baking soda works on its own as a tooth bleaching agent. This is not true. Dentists can prescribe dental bleaches which can result in a 40% increase in brightness and whiteness. They work well because the chemicals are rinsed out, rather than swallowed.

The over-the-counter bleachers are sloppy, irritate the gums, and may cause intestinal distress when swallowed. More importantly, they don't produce the results advertised.

Nicotine and caffeine, along with red wine and some heavy (grape or carrot) juices, stain teeth.

Dental Hygiene - Bad Breath

For the average person, brushing one's teeth and tongue is enough. Tongue scrappers are advised for those with frequent or severe halitosis. Bad breath is a result of several conditions, most frequently a mouth full of bacteria and/or gum disease.

When eating spicy foods, the natural way to eliminate bad breath is to neutralize it by eating a piece of parsley or celery. Breath tablets containing chlorophyll also work very well as a breath refresher.

Scraping plaque off teeth is not advised without dental assistance. Serious problems may result, such as infections in the gums or cheek. Gums should never bleed, be swollen, or leave a sour taste behind. The mouth is a good indicator of one's overall health. If there is something wrong in one's body, the mouth is usually the first place to find warning signals.

Signs to look for include growths in or around the mouth, discolored patches of the gums or tongue, and raised or swollen areas of the mouth. Like natural teeth, dentures and partials should be cleaned after every meal to avoid infection. It is also very important to professionally clean or change dental implants every four months.

All of this information seems very simplistic; but, believe it or not, most people have no idea what the proper techniques are for brushing and taking care of one's teeth and overall dental hygiene. After all, learning a proper, regular dental routine may save a patient's teeth and gums.

By Jacqueline Fulop-Goodling, D.M.D.
Specialist in Orthodontics and INVISALIGN
New York, NY and Woodbury, NY
www.drjackiesmiles.com

Dr. Fulop-Goodling specializes in adult, pediatric, and adolescent orthodontics with two offices in NYC and Long Island. After the completion of her dental training and orthodontic residency at Boston University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Fulop-Goodling assumed a professorship at the University and became Director of the Pre-doctoral Orthodontic Department.

Dr. Fulop-Goodling has spent considerable time conducting research. Since 2003 she has been a member of Invisalign’s Century Club, as well as a member of their National Speakers’ Bureau; and in 2005, Dr. Fulop-Goodling was made the Invisalign National Spokesperson. She has several patents of which two are dentally related.