7 Important Questions About Proper Dental Care

Dr. Marjan Moghadam Prosthodontist Stamford, CT

Marjan Moghadam, DDS, MA, earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from New York University in 2002. Following her General Practice Residency at Long Island College Hospital in 2003, she earned her certificate in prosthodontics, as well as a Masters’ degree in psychology. Both serve her well at Stamford Dental Arts. As... more

Everyone dreams about a Hollywood smile! This requires not only white but also healthy and strong teeth. According to statistics, the main cause of tooth loss is improper care. Below you can read about proper techniques that will help you maintain the health of your oral cavity.

1. What Are the Mandatory Steps in Dental Care?

The basis of dental care is a toothbrush and floss. Toothpaste and rinse are additional aids to help dissolve plaque and freshen breath. In addition to using toothbrushes and toothpaste, it’s recommended using an irrigator. It is an important dental tool that cleanses the oral cavity with a stream of water. 

This device is necessary for people with braces, inserts or implants. It removes plaque between the teeth and at the gum level, which is difficult for us to clean with only a toothbrush.

2. How to Choose a Toothbrush?

Dentists often advise buying medium hardness toothbrushes as they are suitable for almost everyone. But here it is necessary to focus on your own preferences. The brush should be comfortable for you, not too big or too small to brush your teeth. An electric toothbrush intensely cleans your teeth and makes it more comfortable to use, but it is also easier to injure your teeth and gums with such a toothbrush. Therefore, it is impossible to tell if it is a better toothbrush.

3. How to Choose Toothpaste?

The ideal option is to choose toothpaste with your dentist according to your needs. However, if there are no serious problems with your teeth, then you may buy toothpaste with an indication “for cavity prevention".

There are two indicators that you should pay attention to. This is ppm of fluorine, the content of ions in the paste which should be up to 1500. It is also worth paying attention to toothpaste abrasive properties (RDA). It should be up to 100 if you use a manual toothbrush. If the number is higher than 100, it is a whitening paste that should not be used daily.

4. Is It Necessary to Clean the Tongue and Cheeks?

The tongue can be cleaned, but not very often or when plaque forms on it. This can be done with a tongue brush or a regular toothbrush that has a special ribbed surface. It is not recommended to brush the tongue with the bristles of your toothbrush after the teeth as it can easily damage the tongue and cause inflammation.

If a visible plaque forms on the tongue or cheeks, this is usually due to problems with the digestion. Of course, you can cleanse this plague, but it will not solve the problem.

5. How Often Should a Hygienic Cleaning Be Done?

Hygienic cleaning should be done regularly, and this is really important for dental health. You cannot brush your teeth the same way the dentist in Stamford does. In addition to cleaning, the doctor can also notice initial cavities and treat them. 

According to the general recommendation, such a procedure must be performed at least once a year. But the regularity of dental hygiene cleaning can be changed depending on the lifestyle and condition of the teeth. There are patients who are recommended to do it every three months. 

6. Do Toothpicks Damage the Teeth and Gums?

It is not recommended to use toothpicks as they can break the contacts between the teeth and injure the gum or even the tooth. After eating during the day, it is best to use floss as it is also compact but not as traumatic as toothpicks.

7. Does Chewing Gum Harm the Teeth?

Chewing gum is a good bonus for general dental care. It is impossible to replace full teeth cleaning with it, but it is a good additional cleansing measure after a meal.