Helpful Hints by Dental Associates

1. Outside of front teeth.
   Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle where your teeth and gums meet.  Move the brush back and forth in a gentle brushing motion.


2. Outside and inside of back teeth.
   Use short, angled brush strokes.


3. Inside of front teeth.
   Tilt the brush vertically and make up-and-down strokes.


4. Chewing surfaces.
   Hold the brush flat and use a gentle brushing motion.

1. Setting up and inserting floss.
   Pull about 18 inches of floss from the dispenser and wrap the ends around your middle fingers.  Hold floss tightly, using your fingers to gently guide the floss between the teeth.


2. Removing plaque.
   Holding the floss tightly against the tooth, move the floss away from the gum, scraping the floss up and down against the side of the tooth.


3. Cleaning the whole mouth.
   Repeat flossing procedure on each tooth, upper and lower, using a clean segment of floss.


4. Flossing back teeth.
   Don't forget to floss behind back teeth or where there is no adjacent tooth.

When to start flossing.

Start flossing your child's teeth when they fit closely together at age two or three.  At about age eight, kids should be able to floss their own teeth.  Teach your children to floss once a day.

• Use an effective flouride toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association, such as Colgate Junior.  Colgate Junior's great tasting, sparkling turquoise gel and unique star shape make brushing fun, so kids want to brush.
• Choose a small, soft bristled children's toothbrush that won't scratch the gums, such as Colgate Junior Extra Soft toothbrush, specially designed to gently clean young teeth.
• Check your child's toothbrush for split or worn out bristles that can irritate young, sensitive gums.  Replace worn toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months.
• Let your child watch and imitate you, and help him or her brush until they get the hang of it.
• Show them how to hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gumline, and gently scrub back and forth, brushing one or two teeth at a time.
• Since the chance of decay increases as each new tooth erupts, your dentist should inspect your child's teeth regulary for signs of decay.  To prevent premature loss, it's just as important to have decayed teeth repaired as it is to repair permanent teeth.
• Be sure to praise your children for cleaning their teeth so well.  By telling them how nice their teeth and smile look, you encourage them to take good care of their teeth.

Are there special instructions I should follow after getting a filling or crown or after having a root canal?

• For filling and crowns:  Avoid drinking hot liquids or eating chewy foods until the numbness from your anesthesia wears off (it may last as long as for hours).  This will prevent you from accidentally burning your mouth with a hot drink or biting your check or tongue.  Afterward you may drink or eat anything you want.  You might also experience a mild sensitivity to heat and cold in the repaired tooth, but this usually disappears within a day.
• For root canals:  The tissue surrounding your tooth may become inflamed, and your tooth may be tender.  Over-the-counter pain treatment can help ease discomfort.  Teeth that undergo root-canal treatment can also become dis-colored and may require bleaching, bonding, or a crown.

Do I need to clean any differently around my crown?

• Be particularly vigilant about brushing and flossing along the edges of your crown.  Trapped food and plaque can build up around the gumline and adjacent teeth and lead to gum disease or decay.

Is the mercury in amalgam fillings hazardous to my health?

• A very small number of people are allergic to mercury, and minute amounts of mercury vapor may be released when you chew and grind your teeth.  But worldwide studies conducted for more than a century have failed to link the mercury in amalgam fillings to medical problems.  Amalgam is still a safe, cost-effective, and durable restorative material.

Why should I have a root canal?  Can't my dentist just remove my damaged tooth?

• It's much better to keep as many of your natural teeth as possible.  When teeth are extracted and not replaced, teeth near the empty space begin to shift.  This can affect your chewing ability, cause your mouth to sink in and your face to change appearance, and allow plaque to build up more easily.  Also, if teeth are replaced, bridges may be more expensive than root canals.

What should I do if I lose a crown or filling?

• Call and schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately.  Don't put the filling or crown back on the tooth (it could cause damage or you may swallow it).  Just bring it with you to the dentist.  In the meantime keep the area clean by performing your normal dental-hygiene routine of brushing and flossing.