Oral Hygiene

Oral Hygiene Local Family Dentist in Salem Oregon

It’s easy to forget about your teeth – we understand. Everyone is busy, everyone is trying their best to prioritize things in their life, and your oral hygiene sometimes gets lost in the commotion. Forgetting about your oral hygiene can have very serious and expensive repercussions that will leave you wishing you had remembered to take better care of your mouth. At Hunsaker Dental, we care deeply about the health of your mouth and would like to take a moment to give you some educational tips on how to best take care of it.

The Big Dangers To Your Mouth

Interestingly, one of the biggest dangers to your mouth is not something that is talked about a lot. Sure, tooth decay is a big, scary monster but what you ought to be concerned about is the condition that makes tooth decay very likely – periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is more commonly referred to as gum disease and is responsible for a huge amount of issues in the mouths of many adults. You will likely experience some degree of gum disease throughout your life but the good news is that you can do plenty to prevent it.

Gum disease can be prevented with great oral hygiene. If you brush and floss regularly, and come in to have a cleaning and exam twice a year, you can easily stave off gum disease and all the nasty side effects that come with it.

How to Brush

Proper brushing starts with the right brush. It’s important to find a brush with soft bristles. Hard and medium-bristled brushes can damage your teeth by scratching the enamel and wearing down the protective layer of your teeth. When you brush, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle and place it against your teeth where they meet the gums. Brush in small, circular motions while applying light pressure. Move from tooth to tooth ensuring you get the outside, inside, and chewing surface of every tooth. Brushing needs to be thorough, which is why we recommend setting a time limit of at least two minutes for every session.

How To Floss

Sure, brushing does a great job of removing plaque and tartar from the easy-to-reach portions of the tooth but what about in between each tooth – brushing can’t reach those crevices. Flossing is great at removing plaque from between teeth and should be done at least once a day. 

With floss, the best kind to use is the kind that you prefer. Whether it’s woven or waxed is not as important as whether you enjoy using it. To floss, wrap the floss around a finger on each hand and gently insert it between two teeth. Move it back and forth between each tooth gently. It is important not to snap the floss into place with force as this can result in a damaged restoration or tooth. Whenever cleaning your teeth use gentle care to avoid doing damage.

Things To Look Out For

If your gums bleed frequently after brushing and flossing or appear red and swollen consider giving us a call as this could be a sign that you are developing gum disease.

For more information, or if you’d like to schedule an appointment, please give us a call at Salem: 503-877-1598, or Monmouth: 503-877-1590

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