Chapter Eight: Oral Hygiene

Chapter eight

Oral hygiene

Brush Your Teeth

A Guide to a Healthy Smile

You will need: • A tooth brush • Tooth Paste • Water

Tooth Brushes

There are regular tooth brushes and electric tooth brushes.

How to Choose a Toothbrush Steps: 1. Bristles are the most important consideration when buying a toothbrush. Choose soft bristles, which will last long and not hurt gums. 2. Select a brush head that is small enough to access hard-to-reach areas. 3. The bristle pattern and handle design should be determined by personal preference and habit. 4. Keep in mind that there is no evidence that electronic toothbrushes work more effectively than conventional ones. However, people who are handicapped or who wear braces may prefer them. 5. Replace your toothbrush once every three months or whenever it becomes worn.

Tooth pastes

• Fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is effective in the prevention of dental caries. Since we are all susceptible to dental caries, we all need fluoride toothpaste. Children should use children toothpaste which contains a lower concentration of fluoride. This can prevent them from ingesting fluoride accidentally.

• Desensitizing toothpaste Desensitizing toothpaste should only be used when there is tooth sensitivity.

• Whitening toothpaste Unless it is under the dentist's supervision, we should not use whitening toothpaste. Long-term use of whitening toothpaste will roughen the tooth surfaces.

What do you do? • Wet the bristles on your tooth brush • Squeeze a pea size squirt of tooth paste on your bristles • Brush the all surfaces of every tooth with a circular motion • Rinse with water and spit

how to brush Thorough and correct tooth brushing is important for healthy teeth. A bad brushing technique might damage your teeth or gums.

Bass cleaning technique for adults: Place the toothbrush at the gum margin at an angle of 45°. Press the bristles against the teeth and gums softly. Move the toothbrush with small, vibratory to and from motions. Thus, food residues and dental plaque will be removed thoroughly but gently.

Brush your teeth systematically: start with the outer surfaces, next the inner surfaces and lastly the chewing surfaces. Always start with the back teeth as they are most difficult to clean.

For cleaning the inner surfaces of the front teeth, put the toothbrush in an upright position and place the bristles at the gum margin. Move the toothbrush in the direction: from the gums to the tooth.

MOI method for kids As the motor activity of small children is in its development still they can not brush their teeth on their own satisfactory. Therefore, dentists recommend that parents supervise the tooth brushing and clean again afterwards until the child enters school.

Masticatory (chewing) surfaces: • Start with the chewing surfaces using simple to and from movements. Brush the top right side at first, then the top left side, the bottom right side, and finally the bottom left side. Start at the back and brush slowly towards the front.

Outer surfaces: • Perform small, circular movements on the outer surfaces of the posterior and lateral teeth with the brush whilst the dentition is slightly opened. Once again, start at the back and brush slowly towards the front. To brush the incisors, close your teeth because then it is easier to perform the circular movements.

Inner surfaces: • For cleaning the inner surfaces, put the toothbrush in an upright position and move it in the direction: from the gums to the tooth

When can you brush? Make sure you brush your teeth at least two times a day.

In the morning Before bedtime

Flossing Facts: 1. Most people think they know how to use dental floss. 2. Most people use dental floss incorrectly. 3. Most people are never taught how to use dental floss.do not use dental floss 4. Most people consistently, correctly, and EVERY DAY.

Let’s try flossing together  Wind 18" of floss around the middle fingers of each hand.

Pinch floss between

thumbs and index fingers, leaving a 1"- 2" length in between.

 Use thumbs to direct floss between upper teeth.

Gently guide floss between the teeth by using a zig-zag motion. Do not snap floss between your teeth. Thumbs up for upper teeth.

Pointer fingers down for lower teeth.

Curve the floss around the side of the tooth. Keep the floss against the side of the tooth in a “C” shape.

Slide the floss all the way under the gum until you feel some resistance, then scrape down several times.

Arrows show the direction to floss.

Flossing Review  

Use Use 16”-18” 16”-18” of of dental dental floss. floss.

Curve the floss against the tooth, Form a “C” shape.

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Carefully slide the floss up under the gum and scrape down on the side of the tooth.

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Use dental floss consistently.

Interdental cleaning with dental sticks • Moisten the tip of the dental stick in the mouth. Insert the stick with the narrow flat side against the gums. Carefully move the stick back and forth to clean between the teeth.

Mouth

Rinse

Depending on the active ingredients they contain, different types of mouth rinse can be used to prevent dental caries, periodontal disease or reduce tooth sensitivity. Fluoride mouth rinse Anti-plaque mouth rinse Desensitizing mouth rinse

Which type is suitable for you Most people don't need to use mouth rinse. Before you choose to use mouth rinse, please seek your dentist's advice. For most people, as long as they thoroughly brush their teeth in the morning and before bed with fluoride toothpaste everyday, there is no need to use fluoride and anti-plaque mouth rinse.

For people who are prone to dental caries, having severe dental caries, wearing orthodontic appliances or undergoing radiotherapy, they need to use fluoride mouth rinse according to the dentist's instructions in order to obtain additional protection against dental caries. Desensitizing mouth rinse is only suitable for people with tooth sensitivity. It is advisable to consult your dentist before you choose to use it and follow his instructions in using desensitizing mouth rinse.

Pit and fissure sealing

Pits and fissures provide a sheltered environment in which dental plaque can develop so that these areas are particularly susceptible to dental decay. Fissure sealants are materials designed to prevent pit and fissure caries. They are applied, mainly to the occlusal surfaces of the teeth, to obliterate the occlusal fissures, thus removing the sheltered environment which favours caries progression.

Clinical techniques 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Isolation of teeth Cleaning the teeth Etching Washing Drying Mixing the resin Sealant application Checking occlusion