Healthy Gums – Oral Health – Dental Hygiene

There are certain basics everyone needs to adhere to if they’re to maintain good oral health, clean teeth and healthy gums. This involves brushing your teeth at least twice daily and never going to bed without brushing your teeth first. When you’re next in the practice ask our hygienist about the best technique for brushing teeth. This way you’ll get the most benefit out of your daily teeth brushing routine. Other brushing tips include; not forgetting to brush your tongue, use a fluoride toothpaste, update your tooth brush every 3 months, use an electric toothbrush, and floss or use interdental brushes.

There are certain basics everyone needs to adhere to if they’re to maintain good oral health, clean teeth and healthy gums. This involves brushing your teeth at least twice daily and never going to bed without brushing your teeth first. When you’re next in the practice ask our hygienist about the best technique for brushing teeth. This way you’ll get the most benefit out of your daily teeth brushing routine. Other brushing tips include; not forgetting to brush your tongue, use a fluoride toothpaste, update your tooth brush every 3 months, use an electric toothbrush, and floss or use interdental brushes.

There are certain basics everyone needs to adhere to if they’re to maintain good oral health, clean teeth and healthy gums. This involves brushing your teeth at least twice daily and never going to bed without brushing your teeth first. When you’re next in the practice ask our hygienist about the best technique for brushing teeth. This way you’ll get the most benefit out of your daily teeth brushing routine. Other brushing tips include; not forgetting to brush your tongue, use a fluoride toothpaste, update your tooth brush every 3 months, use an electric toothbrush, and floss or use interdental brushes.

“Toothbrushing goes far beyond keeping your teeth and gums healthy. It also improves the quality of life” Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive, Oral Health Foundation

For the best results when brushing teeth hold your toothbrush at a slight angle and aim the bristles toward the gum line, where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with circular short back-and-forth motions. Brushing too hard or with hard bristles can hurt and damage (sometimes permanently) your gums and lead to bleeding.

Brush your teeth for two minutes. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.

It’s tricky to reach the bacteria in the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gum line with a toothbrush. Flossing is the best and only way to reach these surfaces so it’s an important element of your daily oral hygiene routine. Tips when flossing:

• Use approximately 18 inches of dental floss each time. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. Grip the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
• Guide the floss between your teeth using a rubbing motion. Don’t snap the floss into your gums. When the floss reaches your gum line, curve it against one tooth, making a c shape. Slide the floss into the space between your gum and tooth. Use the floss to gently rub the side of the tooth in an up-and-down motion. Unwind fresh floss as you progress to the rest of your teeth. If you struggle to use floss try an interdental cleaner — such as a dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, tiny brushes that reach between teeth, a water flosser, or wooden or silicone wedge plaque remover. Our dental hygienist at Wayside Dental Practice will recommend the best interdental brushes for your teeth.

Simple changes to your daily oral health regime, as suggested above, is a proven way to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. Regular dental appointments and regular dental cleanings and exams that include x-rays will also help in early detection of any dental problems. Early intervention will save you many trips to the dentists and save you time and money. Healthy gums should be firm and a light shade of pink, although they may contain other pigments depending on your ethnic origin. In the meantime, contact us if you notice any signs or symptoms that could suggest oral health problems, such as:

• Red, tender or swollen gums
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Gums that begin pulling away from your teeth
• Loose permanent teeth
• Unusual sensitivity to hot and cold
• Persistent bad breath or an unusual taste in your mouth
• Painful chewing

Remember, early detection and treatment of problems with your gums, teeth and mouth can help ensure a lifetime of good oral health.

“By taking control of your oral health you increase your chance of living a happier, healthier and longer life”. Dr SohaDattani, Director Scientific & Professional Affairs, GSK

Calcium is a vital building block for strong healthy teeth and other important vitamins for health teeth include vitamin C, D and A.

We’re so lucky to have such an experienced team of dental hygienists at Wayside Dental in Harpenden. The role of our dental hygienist is concerned with ‘preventive’ dental health and also treating gum disease. This includes professionally cleaning your teeth by removing plaque, biofilm and tartar. Our hygienists all use the innovative EMS Airflow to rid your teeth of harmful biofilm and remove staining and this treatment is comfortable too.Our hygienists also show you the best way to keep your teeth free of plaque- the sticky coating that forms constantly on your teeth. Hygienists also give advice about diet and about preventing tooth decay and will work with your dental team at Wayside to give you the care that is tailored to your needs.

We’re so lucky to have such an experienced team of dental hygienists at Wayside Dental in Harpenden. The role of our dental hygienist is concerned with ‘preventive’ dental health and also treating gum disease. This includes professionally cleaning your teeth by removing plaque, biofilm and tartar. Our hygienists all use the innovative EMS Airflow to rid your teeth of harmful biofilm and remove staining and this treatment is comfortable too.Our hygienists also show you the best way to keep your teeth free of plaque- the sticky coating that forms constantly on your teeth. Hygienists also give advice about diet and about preventing tooth decay and will work with your dental team at Wayside to give you the care that is tailored to your needs.