Oral Hygiene

Home Care

All of the teeth have five surfaces that need to be cleaned twice daily. Any brush, be it electric or manual, at best only cleans three surfaces. They are:

The chewing surfaces
The cheek and lip surfaces
The tongue and roof of the mouth surfaces

Tooth brushes are not designed to clean the front surface and the back surface that trap food and bacterial in between teeth. Unfortunately, that’s where most periodontal diseases get their start.

To properly use a toothbrush to clean the three surfaces it was intended to do, place the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle pointing toward the junction of the tooth and the gum. Gently move the brush in a circular motion for several rotations using small, gentle strokes. Use only soft tooth brushes with light pressure. You do not need to apply heavy, scrubbing motions that may cause discomfort or damage.

When you are done cleaning the lip/cheek surfaces of the teeth, reverse the angle to clean the surface that borders the roof of the mouth and the tongue. Start in the back and work the brush all of the way around the teeth, until you reach the opposite side.

After cleaning those two surfaces, the toothbrush can be used to clean the chewing surface of the teeth. Make several gentle back and forth strokes on top of each tooth. Rinse out thoroughly.

Periodontal disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush just doesn’t reach. That’s way brushing alone won’t protect you from developing periodontal infections.

It is very important to incorporate other home care measures that are specifically designed to clean food and bacterial from in between the teeth. Floss, interproximal brushes, stimudents and rubber tip devises are all intended to reach those hard to get areas. Please review the following instructional guide to achieve a good home care routine.

View our Oral Hygiene Instruction Booklet