The Manhattan Beach Dentist believes that education is power when it comes to helping our patients maintain healthy teeth and gums. You already know that your daily oral hygiene routine is vitally important to minimizing plaque and preventing dental infections. But many patients are not taking advantage of the full benefits of brushing and flossing twice a day.

The technique you use when brushing has a great impact on the effectiveness of your daily oral hygiene routine. So let’s review the proper technique for brushing teeth.

How to Brush Properly

1. Wet your toothbrush and apply a peanut-sized strip of toothpaste (pea-sized for children). Using too much toothpaste can be harmful for children because they are more likely to swallow it and ingest fluoride. Too much fluoride in the system can cause problems.
2. Begin with your upper left molars (in the back) by placing the toothbrush on the outer surface of the tooth.  Tilt your brush at a 45 degree angle towards your gums and press lightly to bend the bristles a bit. Do not press too hard or you may damage the enamel on the surface of your tooth, resulting in sensitivity and/or discoloration.  Your brush head should cover approximately 2-3 teeth at a time.
3. Move your brush across your teeth in a slightly circular motion. Your strokes should be about the length of one tooth and you should spend about 10-15 seconds in one spot.
4. Gradually work your way around to the front teeth and continue on to the other side of your mouth.  Then switch to the bottom teeth and do the same thing.
5. Once you have finished cleaning the front surfaces of your teeth, move on to the inside surfaces of the upper and lower molars and premolars.
6. To clean the inside surface of your front teeth, hold the brush perpendicular to the gum line and use a flicking motion to wipe away plaque.
7. Don't forget to brush the biting surface of your molars. This will prevent plaque and bacteria from causing cavities by growing inside the crevices in your teeth.
8. Finally, brush your tongue and the inside of your cheeks, and then rinse with water.

 
Following these simple steps will help you to maintain healthy, clean teeth between professional cleanings. Remember to schedule regular professional cleanings with the Manhattan Beach Dentist to really optimize your oral health.

Dental infections and periodontal disease not only affect the appearance of your smile but can destroy your oral health. Neglecting routine at-home oral and professional care places you at greater risk of losing teeth and bone density. At some point when you finally do try to “catch up” you may face painful complications that require extensive cosmetic procedures in order to restore the appearance of your smile.
 
Prevention is the key to maintaining a beautiful healthy smile. By making your dental care a priority you can save you the future cost and embarrassment of dental disease. One of the goals of the Manhattan Beach Laser Dentist is to educate our patients on effective ways to prevent cavities and gum disease. Even the most consistent routine of brushing and flossing is not enough to maintain a healthy smile. Practicing good at-home oral hygiene is vital, but it must be paired with professional dental cleanings to be really effective.
 
Many of our patients understand the importance of following good oral health by following proper oral hygiene routines and avoiding damaging food and drinks. As we eat, drink, and speak a sticky bacterial film called plaque coats tooth enamel and oral tissue. Flossing and brushing help to remove some plaque build-up but cannot eliminate it completely. The plaque that is not removed hardens into a substance called tartar. Tartar continues to build up on teeth, causing dental decay, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss unless it is removed through regular professional cleanings.

You can take control of your dental health by:

1. Maintaining a proactive at-home cleaning schedule (to reduce daily plaque build-up)
2. Seeing your dentist for semi-annual professional cleanings (to remove tartar and give you a “clean slate” for brushing and flossing).

It is never too late to get back on track with your dental health routine. Start by scheduling a visit with Manhattan Beach Laser gum disease treatment office to give yourself and your family the best possible chance for optimal oral health.

The basic cause of all tooth decay is plaque and tartar. A combination of bacteria, food particles, and saliva collect on teeth causing the formation of plaque, particularly at the gum line. If plaque is left for extended periods on the surface of the tooth, it will harden into a cement-like substance called tartar requiring removal by our Manhattan Beach Dentist Office. Bacteria that are found in plaque and tartar create acidic byproducts that lead to cavities by eating through healthy tooth enamel.

How to Prevent Plaque and Tartar Buildup

Diligent oral hygiene is the best way to slow the buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth. As you brush and floss you also remove a good percentage of plaque from your teeth, preventing the buildup of tartar. The bacteria that causes teeth to decay thrives on any sugar that lingers on the teeth, so obviously avoiding sugary foods will help reduce the buildup of plaque.

Regular visits to your dentist are vital to the successful management of plaque and tartar buildup. Your dental hygienist will provide a thorough dental cleaning designed to remove the plaque and tartar that routine brushing and flossing might leave behind. During the same visit, your dentist can also monitor changes to your teeth, using x-rays or digital imaging that will reveal decay in your teeth before it becomes a serious problem.

Treatment for Plaque and Tartar Buildup

Once you have a buildup of plaque and tartar on your teeth, it can only be removed by your dentist. Our Manhattan Beach, California Dentist uses tools designed specifically for the removal of plaque and tartar. These dental tools are more effective than a toothbrush at removing stubborn buildups, and will also help prevent decay from developing.

Aside from tooth decay, a severe plaque buildup can lead to periodontal, or gum, disease. The Bacteria that remains under the gum line can lead to a more serious infection in the gums, gingivitis. Left untreated, severe infection can occur which will require antibiotics to restore your oral and general health.

Our mouths require as much care as the rest of our body. Many people focus on superficial needs of their mouth without understanding that their mouth is also a breeding ground for bacteria if not properly maintained. The most efficient way to maintain your oral health is to schedule routine examinations and professional dental cleanings twice a year with your Dentist Manhattan Beach, California.

It is essential to brush and floss regularly in order to keep bacteria at bay. It is imperative that you maintain your dental hygiene by meticulously brushing your teeth. Be certain to include this important oral hygiene task into your daily routine, especially if you drink beverages that stain the teeth like coffee and red wine. Drinking coffee, tea and red wine or using tobacco products increase your risk of stains that will require bleaching treatments to correct.

Plaque build-up can lead to tooth loss. When plaque builds up over time it will harden into a substance known as calculus. This cement-like deposit seeps into the gums and gives bacteria an entry point to sub gingival structures. Without proper tools to remove this substance bacteria will continue to multiply and the colonization will lead to periodontal problems.

If left untreated, an abscess could develop. Your immune system will naturally try to combat the foreign organisms, causing an inflammatory response. The patient will notice that the area around the tooth is swollen and the abscess is likely to cause great discomfort, especially when the specific tooth is used to chew.

If this is not resolved, the bacteria may travel to the nervous tissue, maxillary sinus and in severe cases, even the brain. Your oral cavity is made up of vital tissue, and although our immune system fights off infection, it may not be enough to prevent a serious infection from occurring and spreading. Practice diligent at-home oral hygiene and make regular appointments with your Manhattan Beach Cosmetic Dentist to maintain good oral health.

Generally, teeth cleanings are recommended once every six months for a patient with no serious ongoing dental needs. When you visit our Manhattan Beach Dentist Office, our dental hygienist will conduct an examination to evaluate and identify signs of inflammation and disease. We will discuss the findings with you to identify underlying issues that could compromise your oral health.

A plan for treatment will then be developed based on your dental needs. Keep in mind that every patient is unique with their own specific needs and risk factors for gum disease. As a result, more frequent cleaning and a more intense cleaning regimen may be established for at-home oral hygiene.

During a routine cleaning, your hygienist will remove plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gumline. If plaque and tartar debris are allowed to build up and remain around and below the gumline, it may lead to gum disease or periodontitis. Periodontitis is more advanced than gum disease, or inflammation of the soft tissues.

Periodontal disease is caused by the overgrowth and accumulation of dental plaque, which causes disintegration of the bone around the teeth, forming pockets between your teeth and under your gums. These pockets become infected and will continue to deepen, causing the underlying bone structure to gradually disintegrate. Ultimately your teeth become loose, putting you at great risk of losing teeth.

General dentistry and a routine of regular visits to the Dentist, Manhattan Beach California for cleanings can help prevent periodontitis through the removal of soft plaque and hard calculus (tartar) during a cleaning. Over time, the cumulative staining effect of certain beverages and foods can cause your teeth to become discolored. Routine dental cleanings also include polishing of your teeth, improving the appearance of your smile by reducing surface staining.