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Fremont Family, Cosmetic and Children Dentist Dr. Priya Balaraman serving Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward, Milpitas and surrounding
areas.
Esquire Dental provides quality Family and Kids Dentistry in Fremont neighborhood serving Union City, Newark, Hayward, Milpitas and other bay
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Oral
Hygiene |
Why is oral hygiene so important?
Adults in their late 30's lose more teeth to gum diseases than from cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life and the best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is by performing dialing good tooth brushing and flossing techniques.
Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque which is a colorless film, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. By thorough daily brushing and flossing you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease and have longer lasting teeth.
How to Brush
We recommend using a soft to medium tooth brush and position the brush at a 45 degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times using small, gentle strokes brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth. Use light pressure while putting the bristles between the teeth, but not so much pressure that you feel any discomfort.
When you are done cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth, follow the same directions while cleaning the inside of the back teeth.
To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth. Don’t forget to gently brush the surrounding gum tissue. Then one cleans the biting surfaces of your teeth by using short, gentle strokes. Change the position of the brush as often as necessary to reach and clean all surfaces.. After you are done, rinse vigorously to remove any plaque you might have loosened while brushing.
How to Floss
Periodontal disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a very effective way to remove plaque from those surfaces. However, it is important to develop the proper technique and the following instructions will help you do it the right way to get the best results which will take time and practice to get it right.
Start with a piece of floss (waxed is easier) about 18” long. Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand. Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand.
To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Gently insert the floss tightly between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or try to snap it in to place. Bring the floss to the gumline then curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance. Move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth. Since there are two tooth surfaces that need to be cleaned in each space, continue to floss each side of all the upper teeth. Be careful not to cut the gum tissue between the teeth. As the floss becomes soiled, turn from one finger to the other to get a fresh section.
To clean between the bottom teeth, guide the floss using the forefingers of both hands. Do not forget the back side of the last tooth on both sides, upper and lower.
When you are done, rinse vigorously with water to remove plaque and food particles. Do not be alarmed if during the first week of flossing your gums bleed or are a little sore. If your gums hurt while flossing you could be doing it too hard or pinching the gum. As you floss daily and remove the plaque your gums will heal and the bleeding should stop.
Choosing Oral Hygiene Products
There are many products on the market making it all the more confusing in choosing the right product. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.
Automatic and “high-tech” electronic toothbrushes are safe and effective for the majority of the patients. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth thoroughly, but will not remove plaque. You need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator. We see excellent results with electric toothbrushes called Rotadent and Interplak.
Some toothbrushes have a rubber tip on the handle which is used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, therefore discuss proper use with the doctor.
Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses, if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. It is important to highlight that these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gumline so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease.
Anti-plaque rinses, approved by the American Dental Association, contain agents that may help bring early gum disease under control. Use these in conjunction with brushing and flossing.
Professional Cleaning
Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus to a minimum, but a professional cleaning will remove calculus in places your toothbrush and floss have missed. Your visit to our office is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease. I strongly recommend patients followup on their 6 month cleaning since this ensures longetivity for the teeth and good oral health.
Caring for Sensitive Teeth
Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. Though this feeling should not last long, but only if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe. If your teeth are especially sensitive consult with your doctor. They may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth. |
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Fremont Dentist Dr. Priya Balaraman is a well experienced dentist serving California Bay Area cities of Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward and surrounding areas. Dr.
Priya Balaraman is a certified cosmetic dentist in Invisalign, Zoom and Lumineers. We also treat children and treat most pediatric dental family needs.
Esquire Dental is conveniently located on Fremont Blvd at the intersection of Fremont Blvd and Peralta Blvd and this Fremont Dental Office is accessible via the Amtrak train station, I-880 and BART.
37259 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536
Complete General, Family, Pediatric and Cosmetic Dentist based in Fremont CA
Fremont, Newark, Union City, Hayward, Milpitas, San Jose and surrounding areas
Fremont Dentist
Cosmetic Dentist
Pediatric Dentist
Fremont Office Directions
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