Home Care Support

Tooth brushing  

Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA-approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste.

1. Place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.
2. Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
3. Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
4. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Electric toothbrushes are also recommended for some patients. They are easy to use and can remove plaque efficiently. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time.

Flossing

Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline. Flossing helps clean these spaces and disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bones.

1. Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
2. Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
3. Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.

Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.

Rinsing 

It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing and after meals if you cannot brush. If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, consult with your dentist or dental hygienist about its appropriateness.

Other Dental Aids

To optimize your at-home care, you can use other dental aids, as recommended by Dr. Weiselberg. These include interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc., which can all help prevent cavities and periodontal disease.

The benefit of following a rigorous and detailed at-home dental care regimen is that you can avoid a wide range of problems that can negatively impact your beautiful smile. These problems include the following:

• Gum disease – Poor dental hygiene can result in gum inflammation and disease, which can cause pain, bleeding, and eventually tooth loss.
• Tooth decay –  When you neglect your at-home dental care, you raise your risk of getting cavities. Severe cavities can result in tooth loss.
• Bad breath – Neglecting at-home dental hygiene can lead to bad breath, which can be socially isolating, making you self-conscious and anxious.
• Malnutrition – Dental problems can make it difficult to consume a healthy and balanced diet, which can result in malnutrition and weight loss.
• Oral cancer – Poor dental care at home can increase your risk of getting oral cancer, a life-threatening illness, if not caught and treated early.
• Systemic health problems – Poor dental health has been connected with an array of health issues, including heart disease, respiratory infections, stroke, and diabetes.
• Financial stress – Neglecting to properly care for your teeth at home can lead to a heavy financial burden when preventable dental emergencies arise.

Every patient should take proper care of their teeth, regardless of their age. Children have special needs when it comes to dental care, and as a parent, you will need to educate them on the proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing techniques so they can form good habits for a lifetime. With your teenage child, it is important to educate them on the dangers of junk food, sugary sodas, smoking, and alcohol use, which over time can significantly corrupt their healthy smiles. If you live with older adults, it is critical that you monitor their oral health and make sure they are taking the proper steps to avoid infection and disease, which, unfortunately for elders, can sometimes be life-threatening. During your private consultation, Dr. Weiselberg can provide your entire family with the knowledge and information that is so vital for maintaining oral hygiene year-round.