Teeth Cleaning At Home

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We get it. You want healthy gums but don’t want to spend too much time and money. This advice is meant for you to spend the least while getting your gums as healthy as you can; while making any professional care you might need be less extensive, less expensive, and more effective.

Periodontal health is affected by bacteria and infections they cause, the immune system and healing response, e.g., nutrition, genetics, and general health; and the types and amounts of bite forces on the teeth. Good daily teeth cleaning is the missing link to gum health for many people, and it also helps prevent cavities.

Professional cleanings can focus on the details that matter most if there isn’t thick plaque and calculus needing to be removed first. Good home care leaves very little visible plaque and prevents calculus buildup. If you’ve been trying but keep hearing there’s plaque on your teeth or your gums are infected or bleed easily, then please bring your homecare tools to your next cleaning visit so we can help you learn how to better use them.

Sonic Toothbrush for at Least 3 Minutes Each Time You Brush

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The Sonicare DiamondClean Smart is the most powerful, most effective, and easiest to use toothbrush. When used properly it cleans far better than any other toothbrush. It is the easiest to learn how to use as a light flashes on its handle when too much pressure is applied. Set it to its 3-minute deep cleaning mode and use the highest power setting.

Spend 3 minutes slowly moving it around every surface of every tooth with enough pressure to almost make the light flash. Roll the handle in your fingers while going around the inside and outside corners of the farthest back tooth in each section. After 3 minutes turn it back on and finish anywhere you might have missed, and then spend 10 seconds brushing your tongue with the same brush head you used on your teeth.

Other sonic brushes and rotary brushes do not clean as well, none with replaceable batteries are any good at all, and if you need to use manual brush please stay away from cheap ones with stiff scratchy bristles.

Replace Your Toothbrush Head Every 2 Months…

Or sooner if the bristles are not straight and tight together anymore. Not sure whether to replace it yet? Try using a new one and compare it to the old one.

Waterfloss Every Morning and Every Evening (and Ideally After Eating Food)

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The best working ones are Waterpik Aquarius and Waterpik Sidekick. Sidekick is smaller and travels well. Use at least two tanks of water for a full set of teeth. Cordless and shower waterflossers do not clean as well.

Warm water feels best. Plain water is good. Adding a capful or two of Closys antibacterial rinse from Walgreens to the last half cup or cup of water in the tank makes it even more effective.

Hold it so the tip lightly touches your teeth while you move it slowly around your gumline power-washing each area. Aim mostly horizontal but slightly up or down toward gum pockets, focusing on surfaces between teeth.

Use the highest water pressure that doesn’t hurt. For areas too painful, lower the pressure and use for a longer time in those areas. You should be able to increase the pressure a little every day as your gums get healthier.

How Long Do I Need to Spend Cleaning My Teeth??

To be effective, 10-15 minutes total per day for a full set of teeth, divided into 2 or 3 sessions. Every day.

Sonicare Diamondclean Toothbrushes and Waterpik Aquarius Waterflossers Are Available in Our Office to Take Home for Less Than Amazon Prices!

What Else Can Be Done?

Fillings or Crowns to eliminate cavities that might be infecting the gums, and to reduce food and bacteria traps.
Bite evaluation and management to reduce stresses on teeth that cause gum detachment and bone loss.
MyPerioPath saliva DNA testing to identify damaging bacteria so specific antibiotics can be used target them.
Deep Cleanings to non-surgically treat pockets using microsonics, subgingival air-polishing, and laser therapy.
PerioTrays 15 minutes every morning and evening to deliver infection fighting medicine into gum pockets.

Ready to Schedule Your Appointment?

* All indicated fields must be completed. Please include non-medical questions and correspondence only.

WIND POINT DENTAL

Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 7am - 2pm

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