The ADA recommends the following for good oral hygiene:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an inter-dental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. This helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes reduce the bacterial count and inhibit bacterial activity in dental plaque, which can cause gingivitis, an early, reversible form of periodontal disease. ADA-Accepted antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes have substantiated these claims by demonstrating significant reductions in plaque and gingivitis. Fluoride mouth rinses help reduce and prevent tooth decay. Clinical studies have demonstrated that use of a fluoride mouth rinse and fluoride toothpaste can provide extra protection against tooth decay over that provided by fluoride toothpaste alone.

Achieving healthy smiles requires excellent oral hygiene and regular oral health visits with our dental hygienists. Our dental hygienist not only reviews your health and cleans your teeth, but she also can detect early signs of disease in your mouth. From there she can show you the proper way to promote a healthy environment for your teeth and gums. Your treatment is specifically tailored to your specific situation as everybody has different needs. Different needs require different instruction and maintenance. For example, maybe your gums are receding and causing an increase in tooth sensitivity. In this case, we may recommend an electric toothbrush using a gentle circular massaging motion to firm your gingiva and keep them from further receding. In addition, we may place you on a proven desensitizing agent, MI Paste Plus, or Sensodyne toothpaste which will reduce your sensitivity while eating the food and beverages that you enjoy. Maintaining a healthy mouth is the first step in achieving a healthier, more confident smile.