Maintaining good oral hygiene at home is the key to keeping your teeth and gums healthy, so it’s important to stick with a brushing and flossing routine. Regular visits to Alexander Visot, DDS for regular cleanings by professional dental hygienists ensures that any oral health problems are identified before they become serious. To schedule a checkup, call the office in Woodland Hills, California or use the online booking tool.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes in duration. Many people don’t brush for that amount of time, so a good technique is to sing a song in your head from beginning to end (or listen to one), which should keep you brushing long enough.
Here are more tips from the ADA about how to brush:
Yes. No matter how well you brush, there are often particles that get stuck between your teeth that brushing does not remove. Floss gets into those hard-to-reach places.
Plaque often builds up between your teeth, where brushing doesn’t reach it. That sneaky plaque buildup can irritate your gums, make them sensitive, and cause bleeding when you brush. As plaque continues to build, you can end up with gum disease.
As gum disease progresses, bacteria grow in pockets under your gum line and can destroy the bone beneath your teeth, leading to tooth loss. Flossing is therefore essential for preventing gum disease. Dr. Visot or one of his staff hygienists can show you the right way to floss during your next office visit.
A mouth rinse can help keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh, especially an antimicrobial mouth rinse which kills bacteria. A fluoride rinse can also prevent tooth decay. You should discuss the products you use with Dr. Visot because not all of them are equally effective.
Absolutely! You should have a professional dental cleaning at Dr. Visot’s office every six months. Our dental hygienists perform these cleanings, which are essential to maintaining your dental health. Your hygienist conducts a thorough tooth cleaning, removes plaque and stains, and polishes your teeth.
The hygienist may also apply sealants, which prevent plaque buildup on the surface of your back teeth. The hygienist also conducts an oral cancer screening and evaluates the health of your gum tissue.
If you need X-rays to check your teeth for hidden cavities and determine if problems are developing below your gum line, the hygienist does those, too.