"Every day, your mouth has more than a million micro-creatures feeding, reproducing and depositing waste in your mouth," says Amber Broadway, Dental Hygienist at Paducah Dental Care. Doesn’t that make you want to brush your teeth?
Healthy teeth lead a great smile and help you eat and speak properly. Plus, good oral health is essential for your overall health.
What is good oral hygiene?
Clean teeth free of debris
Gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you brush or floss
Bad breath is not a common problem
How do you maintain good oral hygiene? Follow these easy steps from Paducah Dental Care
Brush Your Teeth
Why? To remove plaque, the leading cause of tooth decay.
Brush your teeth 2x per day
Don’t rush when you brush. Take your time to clean thoroughly.
Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Choose an electric or battery-operated toothbrush to reduce plaque and mild forms of gum disease more than manual brushing.
Practice brushing correctly by holding your toothbrush at a slight angle and aim the bristles where the tooth meets your gum. Brush back and forth gently continuously throughout your mouth. Be sure to brush the outside, inside and top of teeth as well as your tongue.
Keep your toothbrush clean by rinsing with water after usage. Store in an upright position and allow it to air dry until you use again. Keep away from other toothbrushes to avoid cross-contamination. To prevent a growth of bacteria, yeast or mold, do not cover with a closed container.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. If the bristles are frayed, worn, or irregular, replace sooner.
Floss Your Teeth
Why? To remove plaque from between your teeth and under your gum line before it hardens into tartar. Once tartar forms, only a professional cleaning can remove it.
Use about 18 inches of dental floss. Wrap most of the floss around the middle finger and index finger. Hold the floss tightly around each tooth in a "C" shape. Move it back and forth up and down between each tooth.
Gently guide the floss between your teether. Be careful not to "snap" the floss into the gums. When the floss reaches your gum line, curve it around the next tooth.
Make sure to use fresh floss around each tooth as you make your way around your teeth. Only floss between one tooth at a time.
Stay consistent with your flossing. If you find it hard to use dental floss, use an interdental cleaner such as a dental pick, pre-threat flosser, Waterpik or a wooden or silicone plaque remover.
Regular Visits To Your Dentist
Visit your dentist at least 2x per year for checkups and cleanings.
Think About What You Eat
Eat a balanced diet by limiting the amount of sugary and starchy foods you ingest.
Reduce regular snacking in between meals.
Other Tips
Consider using mouthwash containing fluoride
Do not use toothpicks or other harsh objects that could produce bacteria or injure your gums.
What are Dental implants? To put it simply, implants are the roots of missing teeth and act as the anchor for a replacement tooth, crown or a set of replacement teeth. Dr. Matthew Mangino, Paducah Dental Care, explains the many benefits of choosing dental implants.
Next best thing to a tooth
Dental implants replace a lost tooth securely to create what looks and operates like a natural tooth. If you choose an option other than a dental implant, the way you eat, smile, speak and live day-to-day can be different and challenging.
Long-term solution
If installed and cared for properly, dental implants can last a lifetime! In comparison, dental bridges may need to be replaced eventually.
No need to worry about how you look
You will not have to worry about a different smile or missing teeth. A face missing teeth can look sagged and sad, but with dental implants, your appearance stays the same. Plus, no need to be concerned about needing to take out your denture or them falling out. Live life as usual with dental implants!
Dentures don’t compare
Think dental implants are similar to dentures? Think again! With dentures, you have to worry about pronouncing words correctly, what you eat, if they will slip out of your mouth, and removing them on a daily basis. And don’t forget about the cleaning. Dental implants function like natural teeth and fixed in place. You won’t have to worry about your teeth moving, falling out, or being able to speak normally.
Eat like normal
Don’t worry about having to remove your teeth before eating your favorite foods. You can eat naturally and comfortably with no difference in taste with dental implants.
No cavities
That’s right! No cavities with dental implants or implant-restored crowns. It’s still important to visit your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and care just like natural teeth.
Protect your natural and healthy teeth
Unlike a tooth-supported bridge that damages natural teeth when placed in the mouth, dental implants protect your teeth. Dental implants are placed into the jawbone where of the root of the missing tooth is located. Your natural teeth are not harmed. In fact, they prevent healthy teeth from shifting as they would if the empty gap remained for a long time.
More predictable than other tooth repair and restoration
Dental implants have a track record of being reliable, long-term and more successful than other tooth repair and restorative methods. Other methods include bridgework, removable appliances and re-treatment of a failing root canal (endodontic) therapy.
