Health Tip: Regular Flossing, Fluoride Treatments and Gum Brushing

By now you are probably tired of all the advice you receive from the Internet or TV ads or mailers telling you just how white your teeth can be and how great your smile can be if you use this product or that product. (What they don't tell you is that you have to apply either a silly-looking bleach-wrap - whitener - to your teeth or that you have to paint it on and wait; either way, it's a pain).

Simple measures can take your oral health to the next level!! Which level is that particular level? It's the level where you are not now.

That sounds like an oxymoron, we know, but think about it. If you only brush once a day and consider yourself finished, you are not because you're not getting to the food that may be way down between your teeth or below your gum lines or you may not be stimulating the gums and cleaning them which can help prevent gingivitis.

Here's a regimen that, if you follow it faithfully, will not only clean up your teeth but will also give you healthier gums to boot.

First, let's start with your toothbrush. When was the last time you changed it? If it is more than 3 months old, it's a pretty good bet that even if it looks like it's in good shape, you should hit the local Walgreen's or Wal-Mart and buy one or two new toothbrushes with firm bristles. And, while you are at it, but an interdental device, it also makes a big difference.

Now, let's look at your toothpaste. Does it prevent tartar buildup or is it just more of a breath mint and cleaner than a real workhorse? The better toothpastes not only are tartar-fighters, but they also contain fluoride that paints your teeth and can strengthen your enamel. Tartar is also called plaque.

Finally, let's look at your floss -- oh, you don't use floss - well starting today, you do. Any standard brand that is waxed and does not spawl as you work it through your teeth (come apart and get caught) is one you should get.

Armed with all of this oral equipment, let's go home and put it through its paces. There are as many suggestions how to do these steps as there are dentists in Des Moines (or wherever, the alliteration was good), but here's what works for us.

To ensure proper oral care use the following procedure:

Open the floss and take a length of the waxed strong and wrap it around two fingers on either hand. Now, open wide and reach as far back as you can and place the floss in the crevice between teeth.

Work it up and down and sideways and, if possible, pull it around the tooth so that it actually goes into the next crevice and encircles the tooth. Then, try to get the floss as deeply under the gumline as you can.

You may find this hurts the first few times, if you haven't tried it before and you may find some blood when you rinse. Do this for all of your teeth.

Also, it's a good idea to use the interdental device now - it's actually a thin, funny-looking tooth-type brush. There are two tips available for it, one shaped like a triangle and the other straight and narrow. I have found that using a narrow brush is best. Gently insert it between your teeth and it will help to remove plaque buildup between visits to your dental hygienist.

Now's a good time to think about using your new toothbrush as well. Open it up and put a nice dollop of toothpaste on the brush face. Begin by working from the rear to the front. On your first pass, use an up and down motion on both the upper and lower teeth on the front side of your teeth. On the backside, you'll have to stand the brush up with its head facing the gum line and brush up and down to clean things out.

Next, make another pass, using a back and forth motion on the front and rear of your teeth. Be sure that you move the bristles up and over the gumline and then give your gums a good bushing, as well. This will help stimulate blood flow and prevent gum deterioration.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of oral care. You should, of course, also see your dentist regularly and have your hygienist also check things out. However, it is still the basics that count and these are the basics that have worked for us successfully.

(Note: I am not a dental professional. I am a writer who has stumbled upon a regime that works for my family. If it works for yours, great, if not, try something else that may work for you. You may want to use an electric or vibrating brush or other types of tooth aides. The choice is up to you. My only credential here is as a toothbrush user who has found a system that works for him.)