Adults

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What is the best way for me to prevent cavities in myself and in my children?

There are some very simple steps that you can take in the prevention of cavities that can save you much pain and money in the long run. Here are a few of the major ones.

Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
Floss daily when brushing.
Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking. Limit the amount of sugars you and your children eat.
Check with your dentist about use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of preventive resin restorations (stronger than sealants) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay.
Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examinations two times per year.

How often should I change my toothbrush?: Most dental professionals recommend that toothbrushes be replaced every three months, or more frequently if you are an extremely vigorous brusher and you notice the bristles begin to flare out. Toothbrushes should also be replaced after you or family members have had a cold, flu, or other upper respiratory infections.

Do I really need to floss my teeth?: Yes, you do NEED to floss. Brushing alone reaches only 3 out of 5 tooth surfaces. Also, the surfaces tooth brushing can't reach (the interproximal "between teeth" surfaces) are areas where periodontal diseases can most easily get started in your mouth. Some type of daily interproximal cleaning is essential for healthy teeth and gums.

Even after I brush, my mouth and teeth do not feel clean.: In order for teeth to feel clean, the plaque bacteria must be mechanically removed from all of the mouth structures. This includes the gums, the teeth, between the teeth, the cheeks, and the tongue. The best way to do this is with a soft, end-rounded, multi-tufted toothbrush, such as GUM® toothbrushes, and with dental floss. These products are designed to remove plaque bacteria from your gumlines and teeth. The amount of time spent actually brushing should be approximately 2 minutes, or long enough to brush all of the gum tissues, tongue, cheeks, and teeth. This is about the length of one song on the radio. The size of the toothbrush is very important for good oral health. GUM® toothbrushes fit most mouth sizes and are very good for overall bacteria removal. Smaller mouths may require a toothbrush with a smaller or compact head.

It’s hard for me to get in the habit of flossing every day.: For all of us, certain habits are more difficult than others to establish. Of course, the best way to establish any habit is to learn the skill when we are children. As adults, flossing is just as important as brushing. Here are some of the tips that may help: Make sure the floss is readily available...put it in the console of the car, in your briefcase, inside your daily planner, in the shower or anywhere you are. Our lifestyles frequently keep us away from home, so the dental floss in the bathroom cabinet is too far away for us to use. Floss for 21 days and then do not floss on the 22nd day. Usually patients can feel the plaque bacteria building up between their teeth on day 22. Then start flossing again on the 23rd day. Utilize floss that is easy to work with in your mouth and will not shred easily. GUM® Flosses are shred resistant and clean very well between the teeth.

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