Tooth brushing 101
- By Mary Marks
- •
- 18 Feb, 2021
- •
Although tooth brushing is one of the first things every one of us do as soon as we wake up, you will be surprised that many of us don’t really do it properly – and there’s no shame in it. Visits to Clarkson Dental and other dental offices will tell you the importance of brushing thoroughly. Here are the basics of tooth brushing, whether you’d just like a reminder or want to make sure you are doing it right.
-Tooth brushing must be performed with the eruption of the first baby teeth (4-6 months) and continued throughout the entire life.
-It must be done at least 2 times/ day, with age-appropriate brushes; morning and evening brushes are mandatory.
-The fluoride content in the toothpaste should be suitable for your age category (500 - 600 ppm F for children; over 1200 ppm F for adults)
-Tooth brushing should last between 3 and 5 minutes.
-The toothbrush should be replaced every 3-4 months.
-For a correct brushing, the toothbrush must be placed along the gum, at an angle of 45 degrees to the teeth, so that the brushes are in contact with both the gum and the tooth surface.
-With a light pressure, short vertical and circular movements must be performed, from the gum to the tooth and horizontally, back and forth.
-Tooth brushing must be performed systematically, in groups of 2-3 teeth, from right to left, first on the upper teeth and then on the lower teeth.
-The movements must be repeated at least 5 times for each group of teeth (the internal surface of the teeth has to be brushed in the same way).
-Once the teeth are properly brushed, the hygiene of the tongue follows (the tongue must also be brushed from the inside to the outside, to remove the bacterial plaque and refresh the breath).
Although oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch is one of the optionsavailable for managing anxiety and discomfort during oral surgery, you certainly do not need to use it all the time. As a matter of fact, the exact type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive during oral procedures may depend on various factors, such as the complexity of the procedure, your medical problems, as well as your doctor’s preferences.
There can be several different levels of sedation that can be used in oral surgery. Local anesthesia is one of them. This involves injecting anesthetic medication into the specific area where the surgery will take place. It numbs the area and is often used for less invasive procedures.
Oral sedation involves taking medication in the form of a pill to induce a state of relaxation and drowsiness. The patient is still conscious, but he/she may not be fully aware of the procedure. At any rate, sedation helps him/her get rid of anxiety.
In the case of intravenous sedation, medication is administered through a vein, which induces a deeper state of sedation than oral sedation. Patients may still be conscious, but they are less aware of their surroundings and may not remember the procedure.
