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FAQ brings you the answers to the most common dental care and other dental related questions.
Dental Hygiene | Laser Dentistry | Tooth Whitening
Q How Important is proper tooth brushing?
A Proper tooth brushing is as important as (if not more important than) going to see your dentist for routine check up and cleaning. A thorough tooth brushing before you go to bed will keep your mouth free from excess bacteria that could bring about cavities, gingivitis( inflammation of gums) or even worse, periodontitis (inflammation of gums and underneath supporting structures).
Q How do we know we have inflammatory gums (gingivitis)?
A The immediate sign of gingivitis is bleeding gums. When you are not brushing properly, within 24 hrs, bacteria aggregate around gum margins and tooth surfaces. Toxic exudates are released from the bacteria. As part of our defense mechanism, our gums become reddish, swollen and easy to bleed.
Q How do we brush our teeth properly?
A
>

At least twice a day, once after breakfast and once before sleep.
> For people with periodontitis, brush after each meal.
> Discard your brush when the bristles are flat. usually about three months.
> A proper tooth brushing last for about three minutes.
> Always start from the gums, with the bristles 45 degrees with the teeth axis, press them against the gums towards the teeth in a rolling motion. As soon as the bristles lose contact with the teeth, go to the opposing arch and start brushing the opposing teeth in the same rolling motion. Repeat the cycle for about 10 times before moving to other teeth. A person with periodontitis may need 20 strokes for each area.
> Focus on the gum margins because those are the area that food debris accumulates. That means, stay at the starting point of each rolling motion a little longer to give the gums some sort of massage.
Q Why is gum massage so important to periodontal health?
A At each gum margin there is a space in between the gum and the tooth that is capable of trapping food debris. A firm kneading motion on the gums by the bristles during tooth brushing will squeeze the food debris out from the space. A person with periodontal disease need more gum massage because the said space is much bigger.
Q Which is better: An ordinary tooth brush or an electric toothbrush?
A

An ordinary tooth brush.

Electric toothbrushes are no better than ordinary tooth brushes unless the person is handicapped or too weak to hold an ordinary brush.

A good tooth brush is medium in size that is capable of brushing 2 to 3 teeth at a time. It must be soft enough so that during the rolling motion its bristles can go into the teeth embrasures to achieve cleaning. Besides, we need soft bristles to massage the gums. Obviously, hard bristles will not do a good job in gum massage.

Q What kind of tooth paste is better?
A

Tooth paste does not play an important role in tooth brushing. You can choose whatever you like.

Some tooth paste manufacturer claim that their product can prevent cavities &/or gum disease. This is insignificant comparing to the importance of proper brushing technique.
Q What are the disadvantages of horizontal motions in tooth brushing?
A
i) Abrasion: wearing off of tooth structures along gum margins. forming groves of varying depths. Affected teeth are usually the premolars and 1st molars. They are very sensitive to cold water because of the exposed dentin which is supposed to be covered by enamel or gum.
ii) Recession of adjacent gum tissue.
iii) Esthetics: Teeth look much yellowier because the exposed part -- dentin-- is much yellowier than enamel which normally covers the underneath dentin. Enamel is slightly transparent but whiter in colour.
 

If you already have regular check up and cleaning, you do not have to worry too much. Usually, when you forget to brush our teeth before going to bed for a couple of days, gingivitis begins to develop. To stop it from getting worse, you can simply brush a little more on the gums (gum massage) and remember to brush your teeth after dinners or before you go to bed.

If the bleeding from your gums has sustained for a while or you have not visit your dentist for more than a year, make an appointment with your dentist!

Q What are the reasons for bad breath?
A

About 90% of bad breath is caused by gum disease. Gum disease is caused primarily by deposit around the neck areas of your teeth. If you have bad breath, not only you have to brush your teeth more, you should also go to see your dentist to remove calculus (tartar) which is adhered firmly to your tooth surfaces. Your dentists have special instruments to remove the calculus (tartar).
Q Will cleaning of teeth by your dentist or hygienist do any harm to your teeth?
A

No. In my 21 years of experience, this is by far the most asked and most ignorant question from patients. Many older people believe that cleaning of teeth will hurt their teeth because they often have sensitivity on their teeth after cleaning by their dentists.

Sensitivity of teeth after cleaning for a person that do not have cleaning done for a long period of time is normal. It usually lasts for only a few days. A person who visits his or her dentist on a regular basis do not experience sensitivity after cleaning.

Q Is the losing of teeth inevitable for senior citizens?
A

No. Most people lose their teeth because of poor oral hygiene. It means they do not brush their teeth properly. A healthy 70 year old person can have their gums as healthy as a 20 year old person's provided that they both brush their teeth properly and see their dentist regularly.

Q What are dental hygienists?
A

They are professional people trained to help dentist to clean patients' teeth. They have to work under the supervision of dentists.

Q Is chewing gum good for our teeth?
A

Yes. Chewing gum is slightly helpful to our dental health provided that it is sugar free. Sugarless gum taken after meals can remove some of the food debris on tooth surfaces. But food debris in between teeth and at areas near the gums are not likely to be removed by chewing gum alone. Nothing other than tooth brushing plus flossing is capable of completely cleaning our teeth.

Q Is mouthwash necessary for promoting our oral health?
A

No. Mouthwashes are sometimes helpful for removing odours from our mouth when we are unable to brush our teeth. Some mouth washes can be used to eliminated bacteria when our gums are infected. Mouth washes should not be used to replace tooth brushing and flossing. Besides, most mouthwashes are very smelly, some even contain alcohol. So, they should only be used occasionally.

 
   
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Address: 4040 Finch Ave E, Suite 304 Scarborough
Ontario, Canada
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