THE INS AND OUTS OF PLAQUE BUSTING

CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON ACHIEVING ORAL HEALTH

Daily and effective removal of dental plaque from all the teeth and implant surfaces is the most critical aspect of achieving dental and gum health.

It is important to note that food remnants stuck between the teeth do not directly cause disease but the removal of any impacted food particles will improve comfort, prevent irritation of the gums and reduce the risk of decay.

The current recommendations on effective self-care practices for long-term oral health are:

Toothbrushing:

Brush twice daily for at least 2 minutes, preferably with a rechargeable electric brush.

Brushing should ideally be done first and last thing in the day i.e. on waking up and just before going to sleep.

Brushing the teeth only removes the plaque from the front, back and biting surfaces of the teeth, hence is only part of the solution to achieving oral health.

Interdental brushing:

Effective cleaning of the surfaces in between the teeth and implants i.e. in the interdental space, can only be achieved with interdental brushes.

Interdental brushes should be regarded as the other half of your toothbrush.

The interdental brushes should be used once daily.

Precision cleaning:

The Precision Brush has been specifically designed to provide optimum cleaning where an ordinary toothbrush cannot get to.

Precision cleaning should be done at least once daily around:

– Dental implants

– Areas of gum recession

– Inside surfaces of the teeth

– Back surfaces of the last teeth

– Areas of missing teeth or large spaces where an interdental brush is too loose

– Wisdom teeth

– Appliances such as braces

Toothpaste:

Toothpaste itself does not clean plaque off the surfaces of teeth.

The primary role of toothpaste is to deliver fluoride to the teeth, which helps to reduce the risk of dental decay.

Desensitising toothpastes are useful for those who experience hypersensitivity to hot, cold and sweet food and drinks.

Mouthwash:

The routine use of any type of mouthwash is not recommended.

Mouthwashes cannot remove plaque off the surfaces of the teeth, nor can they deactivate any established dental plaque.

Mechanical removal of plaque using brushes is the only predictable way to keep the mouth healthy.

Floss, Water irrigation devices and wooden/rubber picks:

Recent studies indicate that the above are not as effective as interdental brushes at removal of plaque in the interdental spaces.

Floss may be used where the smallest interdental brush does not fit, which tends to be the case in minimal number of spaces.

The above devices can be useful for cleaning food from between the teeth.

Tips and tricks for effective oral care:

• Learning to brush effectively is a new skill – be patient and kind to yourself and the process will only become easier with time and practise
• Build a routine that suits your individual lifestyle
• Effective brushing is a skill that requires attention and focus so be mindful to be alert when brushing
• Avoid brushing whilst doing other activities such watching TV or whilst driving
• Brush in front of a mirror with plenty of light. A handheld mirror or vanity mirror can be helpful.
• Set aside enough time for teeth brushing. Brushing in a rush is likely to render the process ineffective
• Use the interdental and precision brushes when there is more time and focus available