Hygiene

The American Dental Association recommends the following techniques for brushing and flossing your teeth:

Brushing

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Flossing

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.
• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
• Bring the floss back toward the contact point between the teeth and move the floss up or down the other side, conforming the floss to the shape of the tooth.
• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions.
• Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Bacteria can live in your mouth in the form of plaque, causing cavities and gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. To keep your mouth clean, you must practice good oral hygiene every day.

What is plaque?

Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates on teeth, including places where toothbrushes can’t reach. Plaque also produces substances that irritate the gums, making them red, sensitive, and susceptible to bleeding. This can lead to gum disease, in which gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets that fill with bacteria and pus. If the gums are not treated, the bone around the teeth can be destroyed and teeth may become loose or must be removed.

How can I get rid of plaque?

The best way to remove plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day.  Brushing removes plaque from the tooth surfaces. Brush your teeth twice per day with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your toothbrush should fit your mouth and allow you to reach all areas easily. Use an antimicrobial toothpaste containing fluoride, which helps protect your teeth from decay. Clean between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental cleaners to remove plaque from between the teeth, where the toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing is essential to prevent gum disease.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Many parents don’t know that children’s teeth must be cleaned as soon as they start coming in. What they also may not know is that traditional toothbrushes may not be safe for toddlers to use themselves because they can be over-inserted in the mouth or even swallowed.

Today, safer toddler toothbrushes are available that prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria. Using toddler toothbrushes can help children establish good oral health habits at an early age. It resembles an oblong-shaped teething toy, with one wide end for easy gripping and a narrow end with a small head of bristles. The shape prevents it from being over-inserted in the mouth or swallowed, and some models have bumps around the gripping end on which infants can teeth.

Even before children’s primary teeth come in, parents should start promoting oral health in infants by wiping inside the baby’s mouth with a washcloth or gauze pad to prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria.

Adults should supervise children while brushing. Adults can also help children have fun with oral care by singing songs to keep them brushing longer or making brushing a game by naming the individual teeth being cleaned.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com

Some people loop. Some people spool. Others simply refuse. But like it or not, flossing is one of the best things you can ever do to take care of your teeth. The benefits of flossing include decreased risk of gum disease; better breath; removal of plaque from between teeth; and polishing tooth surfaces.

Flossing every 24 hours to break up plaque is imperative for good oral health.

Flossing is the single most important factor in preventing periodontal (gum) disease, which affects more than 50 percent of adults.

Flossing, which is just as important as brushing, helps remove the plaque and debris that stick to teeth and gums between the teeth. It also helps polish the tooth’s surface and control bad breath.

Dental floss can be waxed or unwaxed, flavored or unflavored, and wide or regular. All floss helps clean and remove plaque. Wider floss, also known as dental tape, may help people with a lot of bridgework and is usually recommended when the spaces between teeth are wide. Waxed floss can be easier to slide between teeth with very little space between them. Unwaxed floss makes a squeaking sound, which lets users know their teeth are clean.

If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice.  Refer someone you love to someone you trust!

Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,

39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236.  330-650-0360.

www.drshooverandyanda.com