Oral Hygiene Tips

The Link Between Oral Health and Overall Wellness

Caring for your oral health must begin with commitment and attention long before any dental issues present themselves. Keeping good dental habits and eating the foods that promote good oral health can go a long way towards achieving the pearly whites of your dreams.

But achieving optimal oral health isn’t possible working alone. You need a trusted dentist to be your dental partner. At Alex Bratic Dental Care, we take great pride in our preventive dentistry options. We promote and put a strong emphasis on the importance of preventive measures such as dental check-ups and exams to ensure strong and healthy teeth. Read on and learn more about how you can benefit from regular visits to your dentist.

Brushing your teeth

Brushing your teeth is an important part of your dental hygiene. We recommend you brush your teeth twice a day. It’s preventative dentistry you can do at home!

Three minutes

Maximise the benefits of brushing your teeth by brushing for three minutes each time you brush.

Floss at least once a day

The single most important piece of advice a dentist can give you is to floss between each and every tooth once a day. Most tooth decay and gum problems are found hidden between the teeth. Flossing helps remove left over food particles and plaque, which can cause this decay. Flossing should only take between one or two minutes each time you do it.

Use an electric toothbrush

Some people find that an electric toothbrush can be more effective than a manual toothbrush, particularly those with Parkinson’s disease or severe arthritis.

Hold brush on a 45-degree angle

When brushing, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum and move in a short circular motion. Target the area where the tooth meets the gum. First clean all the surfaces along the outside of the tooth against the lips and cheeks. Next, clean along the inside surfaces against the tongue and roof of the mouth.

Finally, clean along the biting/chewing surfaces with a simple backwards forwards motion. We can demonstrate the correct technique on a mouth model using a toothbrush. Alternatively, patients can bring their own toothbrush and we can evaluate your technique in the chair.

Brush your tongue

People who suffer gum disease and or bad breath may benefit from brushing their tongue. The tongue harbours a lot of bacteria that causes gum disease and bad breath.

Toothpaste

Generally any commercially available toothpaste containing fluoride is acceptable, i.e. Colgate and Macleans. We do not recommend herbal pastes that do not contain fluoride. People with moderate to severe gum problems may be better off with specific antibacterial toothpaste.

People who are very prone to tooth decay would be better off with high fluoride toothpaste. These people should also apply a thin smear of tooth mousse (a milk based protein) to their teeth and leave it on overnight. As part of our service, we provide these products to our patients at cost price.

Six monthly visits

Visit our practice six monthly for a regular check up and professional clean. Problems are solved more easily and less expensively when detected early.

Oral Hygiene Education at Alex Bratic Dental Care

Regular at-home and professional oral hygiene is crucial for optimal overall health. If you are unsure whether you’re current brushing and flossing techniques are correct, we will happily give you a demonstration. We will also perform a complete dental exam to check the health of your teeth and gums. With regular dental cleans and oral hygiene education from your Beenleigh dentist, you can keep your mouth and body healthy.

- or -

Call (07) 3287 2627