oral hygiene insruction
Of course, we all know how to brush our teeth but sometimes there are little things that we are missing that can help maintain our oral health even better! At every cleaning at Stauffer Family Dental in Westerville, OH, we will make any necessary recommendations or give advice on how our patients can do even better with their oral hygiene at home.
Brushing
It is recommended that patients brush at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. It is recommended that people brush for a minimum of 2 minutes. It is recommended that most patients use a toothpaste with fluoride. For infants-2 years, use fluoridated toothpaste but only use toothpaste in the amount of a grain of rice. You can use a regular toothbrush or an electric toothbrush. We will make recommendations according to each patients needs but generally an electric toothbrush with sonic motion is recommended. Also, do not rinse after brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste, allow the fluoride to rest on the teeth as long as possible.
Flossing
Flossing is recommended once a day, usually in the evening. We recommend using traditional floss versus the floss picks. We recommend C-shaped flossing and wrapping the floss around each tooth. Water piks are a great adjunct to flossing but not a replacement.
Oral Hygiene with Braces
We recommend patients with braces use an electric toothbrush. We like Oral-B or Sonicare. We also recommend using a water-pik. Those brackets can be very hard to clean around and these two tools make it easier for the patient. We still recommend flossing to prevent cavities between the teeth and promote gum health.
