Home Care
Preventive Dentistry
Home Care
Our ultimate goal in caring for patients is that they’ll have a healthy, beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Your oral home care is crucial in ensuring your long-term oral wellness. It’s about more than just brushing your teeth regularly. You also need to eat balanced meals that provide your body the nutrients it needs and reduce the number of snacks you eat in a day.
Controlling plaque and bad bacteria in your mouth can help prevent dental diseases and tooth decay. Here are the important steps you should be taking at home to protect your oral wellness.
Twice-a-Day Tooth Brushing
You should brush your teeth at least twice a day with an American Dental Association approved toothbrush and toothpaste. Toothbrushes that meet the ADA standards have soft bristles. You should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when the bristles show wear.
An electric toothbrush makes it easier to clean your teeth. Just be sure you’re still replacing the brush head regularly and putting new batteries in it when it starts to slow down.
Here’s the process you should use for brushing your teeth.
- Your toothbrush should be at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Brush gently in a circular motion. You should feel the bristles on your gums at all times.
- Make sure that your brush all exposed surfaces of your teeth, including the outer, inner and chewing surface.
- Using your brush's tip, clean the inside of your front teeth.
- Finish your session by thoroughly brushing your tongue to remove harmful bacteria from your mouth. This also helps freshen your breath.
Flossing to Clean Between the Teeth
Your toothbrush can only reach so far between your teeth. Flossing helps remove debris from between the teeth while also getting under the gumline. A great benefit of flossing is that it prevents plaque colonies from building. This reduces the likelihood of gum damage, tooth decay and bone loss.
Here’s how you should be flossing at least once per day.
- Wrap about a foot of dental floss around your middle fingers. You want to have about 2 inches of exposed floss between your hands. If you’re struggling with conventional floss, you can always use a floss holder.
- Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss between your teeth. Gently apply a sawing motion as you go clear down to the gum line.
- Create a “C” shape around each tooth below the gumline while moving the floss back and forth and up and down gently.
Rinsing Your Mouth
After you’ve brushed your teeth, rinse your mouth with water. You should also rinse your mouth with water after eating a meal or snack if you are unable to brush your teeth right away. This will help remove food debris.
You can use an over-the-counter mouth rinse but be sure to discuss it with your dentist first. Each mouth rinse has different use cases.
Additionally, your dentist might recommend further dental aids based on your dental health and history. These could include:
- Rubber tip stimulators
- Irrigation devices
- Medicated rinses
- Interdental brushes
- Tongue cleaners
- Fluoride
"I have been a patient of Pascack Dental Arts for ten years. Having not just routine care but caps and four implants for which I am today happy, being able to eliminate the need of a denture. My experience with Pascack Dental Arts has been excellent!"
Robert Von Bargen
"Anyone who hates the Dentist should come here! Everyone is professional and excellent... Love, love, love them. NO PAIN!! I am a very difficult patient!!"
Heather Cozine
"I was indeed satisfied and delighted with my experience... I learned things I never knew in 50 years of having teeth! Thank you!"
Nancy Mapes
"A little over three years ago, my older daughter Carolyn, had a bicycle accident. One of her permanent front teeth was actually knocked out. We called the office and they told us to come in immediately. It was about 6 p.m. Everyone was concerned and helpful. Dr.Guller reinserted her tooth. Needless to say, we were very frequent visitors to this office. Everyone knew us and always asked how Carolyn was doing. With everyone’s long-term help, Carolyn’s teeth look great!
Our entire family comes to Pascack Dental Arts. It’s a great place for complete dental care."
Barbara Maskin
“Great visit! My hygienist was fantastic, very thorough and friendly. I look forward to my next visit.”
Tina Guarriello
