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Oral Hygiene

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Houston Medical Center Cosmetic Dentists. Steps To Good Dental Oral Hygiene Care.

The best toothbrush for oral hygiene is one with soft, rounded bristles.
Dentists recommend that you avoid using toothbrushes with medium or hard bristles.  Choose a toothbrush whose shape is comfortable and easy to move around, and whose size is proportional to your mouth.  Do not believe all the hype about power tooth brushes.  Much better results are achieved by simple, manual brushing and dental floss.

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Always use toothpaste that contains fluoride.  Fluoride is a must for good oral hygiene.

There are many ingredients in todays toothpastes that are designed for all sorts of things.  Some are antibacterial.  Others aim at controlling tartar and whitening the teeth.  Others are intended to desensitize the gums, and still others contain baking soda, which was once used for oral hygiene before modern toothpaste was invented.

 

You can always check with your dentist to see if one or more of these special ingredients are something that you really need.  Technically, none of them will hurt you.  What will hurt you is assuming that any one of them can be used as a substitute for fluoride.  Never neglect fluoride as possibly the most important element in preventing tooth decay.

 

Everyone knows they should floss, but many people neglect to floss.

Excuses range from the common lack of time to the fact that flossing hurts the gums or causes gums to bleed.  These are invalid excuses.  Flossing is a critical component to oral hygiene and should be done after every tooth brushing.  Remember, neglecting to floss is like taking a shower, but keeping 30% of your body from making contact with the water. 

 

The type of floss does not matter.  Take about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand, leaving about 5 inches of floss to work with.  Pinch it between your thumbs and forefingers and use about one inch of it for the actual cleaning work.

 

Slide the floss into the space between the teeth and pull it into a C shape around the side of each tooth.  Move the floss up and down the tooth, not side to side.  Be sure to move the floss below the gum line as well.  When you hear a squeaking sound, you will know that all the plaque has been removed. 

 

Many people falsely assume that moving the floss under the gum line will cause bleeding.  It will not.  However, diseased gums will bleed when flossed, so if you are using the proper technique and still experience gingival bleeding, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

 

80% of all Americans suffer from gingivitis or Periodontis, yet many of them do not even know they have it.   Leaving gum disease untreated can lead to all sorts of complications, including tooth loss and even life threatening conditions such as heart conditions.

 

Visiting a dentists office for periodic cleaning and checkup care adds professional expertise to basic, at-home preventative medicine.

No matter how well you take care of your teeth, periodically having them professionally cleaned by a dental hygienist maximize the chances you will never suffer from gum disease or tooth decay.  In addition to basic cleaning, the hygienists at the Cosmetic Dentistry Center located in the Houston Medical Center Dental Group also screen for tooth decay with x-rays and a special cavity-detecting laser called a diagnodent.  They also perform fluoride treatments, and they carefully look over your case history to provide you with personalized at-home care recommendations to maximize the chances of successful daily oral hygiene.

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We are a cosmetic dentistry company located in Houston, Texas.  We service clients throughout all 50 states into cities like Houston, Texas, Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA),  Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Dallas, Texas (DWF), Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP).  We also service clients internationally, including  Canada, Middle East, Asia, Europe, Australia, Mexico, Central America, and South America. 

For any other questions related to cosmetic dentistry, you can contact us at 888.790.0309 or feel free to Ask the Dentist.

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  • Gum Disease
  • Displaying 1 to 8 (of 8 articles) Result Pages:  1 
    Below is a list of articles with the most recent ones listed first.
    Dental Flossing
    Flossing your teeth every day is the second most important thing you can do to maintain your dental health. This is because the bacteria and plaque that cause gum disease.
    Regular Dental Exams
    It is essential that individuals take ownership of their dental health. One of the most important things that any man or woman can ever do is to have regular dental exams.
    Dental Hygienists
    Every time we go to the dentist, we see the dental hygienist as well. Sometimes the hygienist performs a dental checkup, and then sends us on our way to the dentist. At other times, the hygienist actually performs advanced dental procedures.
    Proper Tooth Brushing
    Proper tooth brushing is of the utmost importance. This is true regardless of whether a person uses an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush.
    Tooth Brushing
    Today, tooth brushing is a necessary habit that many American families teach their children to engage in at an early age. Used in conjunction with flossing, tooth brushing is an effective way to combat the bacteria that build up in the gums and on the teeth.
    Hygiene Supplies & Products
    Good oral and dental hygiene is crucial to maintaining a healthy, fully operating mouth and smile. Most of us know the basics of oral hygiene: brush, floss, rinse and repeat.
    Oral Hygiene
    The concept of oral hygiene had its roots thousands of years ago. Ancient cultures mashed or chewed small twigs and tree roots until the fibers loosened up at one end to create a jagged brush.
    Flossing
    Flossing is a vital part of proper oral hygiene. The importance of flossing is often overlooked, however cavities and gingivitis typically start between teeth. This is because brushing protects the visible surfaces of the teeth.
    Displaying 1 to 8 (of 8 articles) Result Pages:  1 
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