If you are one of the lucky ones, you visit your dentistevery six months for routine dental care. But what happens in the months between exams? No judging! We all fall off the flossing wagon. But that’s why The TeleHygienists are here to help.
There’s a rule of thumb in the dental industry: The Rule of Two. Let’s break that down. First, you should visit your dental office two times a year. Second, you should brush your teeth (and floss) twice a day. Finally, when you brush your teeth, it should be for two minutes. The Rule of Two.
So now let’s talk about brushing! There are some fantastic toothbrushes out there. You can go from the fancy electric toothbrushes to the manual brushes with rubber bristles. The TeleHygienists always recommend a toothbrush with a soft bristle with an easy to grip handle. While brushing your teeth, remember to angle the bristles at a 45 ° degree so they can gently scrub your tooth surface and your gums. It’s kind of like a massage for your gums, while removing any harmful bacteria that could lead to periodontal disease. Please re-read that again: gently scrub. Go easy on those gums.
Now to the guilt trip, flossing. Yes, it really is that important. Studies show flossing plus toothbrushing lowered mild gum disease, or gingivitis, much better than toothbrushing alone. You miss up to 40 percent of the surface area of your teeth when you skip flossing! So, pick up that floss, tear off a nice piece of thread and let’s do this. Gently wiggle the floss string in between your teeth. Pull the floss in a “C” shape around the tooth, hugging it tightly against your tooth surface. Now don’t plunge it beneath the gum line, simply pull down about 2 – 3 millimeters down (just barely below the gum surface). It takes practice, but you’ll get it. You can also use floss picks or other devices if floss string is too difficult.
Want to make sure you’re doing it right? Start your call with a TeleHygienist NOW and let’s do this together. And remember to keep smiling.
