Oral Hygiene

• Always use a SOFT toothbrush
• Use a flouride toothpaste
• Brush twice a day
• Don't apply pressure - let your brush do the work!
• See your dentist every 6-9 Months

Brushing

Place your brush at a 45 degree angle to the gum - use a gentle circular motion at the gumline.

Brush the outside sufaces and the inside surfaces of all the upper and lower teeth.

For the chewing surfaces, use a firm back and forth motion

Flossing

Use floss to clean where your toothbrush can't reach

• Take about 45cm of floss and wind the ends around the middle or index fingers
• Grip the floss firmly with the index finger and thumb
• Guide the floss between the teeth using a gentle sawing motion just until the floss reaches between the tooth and the gum
• Gently scrape the side each tooth using an up and down motion but be careful no to snap the floss onto the gums

Rinse

For most patients we advise after flossing and brushing that you rinse with a mouthwash.

For patients who are at more risk of decay we recommend you use a fluoride application. Please contact our surgery for further information.

Fluoride

What is Fluoride? Fluoride is a chemical substance known to strengthen teeth enamel making teeth less susceptilble to decay. There are three ways fluoride makes its ways to teeth:

1. Through food or water
2. Using fluoride toothpaste and mouthrinse daily/weekly
3. Topical application made directly to the surface of the teeth by your dentist

Fluorides are important in protecting teeth from decay in the following ways:

• They act with minerals in saliva to restore and harden enamel damaged by the early stages of decay
• They make fully formed teeth more resistant to decay.

If your water supply does not have fluoride, then additional fluoride may be recommended.

For children under the age of six always use a pea sized amount of reduced fluoride toothpaste, such as Colgate Junior.