Oral hygiene

Dear patient,

Following today's professional cleaning session, I would like to share with you the following information that will be useful to you at home in your personal cleaning routine.

1. Tooth brushing should be done at least twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, for 2-3 minutes each time. It is very important to remember the following point: correct brushing is done from the gum towards the tooth, on all of its surfaces. The brush used should preferably be an electric one, or, failing that, a manual one with medium bristles. Another important aspect you must bear in mind is that after the evening brushing you can no longer consume food or drinks. After the evening brushing you may only drink water; should you consume anything other than water, tooth brushing must be repeated.

2. The use of dental floss is absolutely necessary as a complement to tooth brushing. The bristles of the brush cannot reach the spaces between adjacent teeth, so the use of dental floss is absolutely necessary between each group of teeth. If there are dental bridges, splinted teeth, orthodontic appliances or retainers – situations in which dental floss cannot be used – then you can purchase SuperFloss, which is a special dental floss with a stiffened end that can be pushed between the teeth, so that it passes from one end to the other and helps you achieve proper cleaning of the interdental spaces as well. Likewise, in such situations, or in situations where there are larger spaces between the teeth and dental floss is not effective, you can use interdental brushes.

3. Using interdental brushes: I recommend that you use them with confidence whenever the situation in the oral cavity allows or requires it. The only case in which the use of an interdental brush is not indicated is where your teeth are crowded and the brush simply cannot fit in, in which case you should not force it. I also advise you to use the interdental brush together with toothpaste for a more effective action.

4. I also recommend the use of an oral irrigator; it is effective in all areas of the oral cavity. It is applied between the teeth and activated by pressing the button, at which point the water is sprayed between the teeth and thus cleans the remaining debris as well as the bacterial plaque. Using the oral irrigator alone is not sufficient; I recommend using both dental floss and the oral irrigator together, the order in which the operations are carried out not being of great importance. I prefer using the irrigator after the dental floss, so the order is as follows:

• correct tooth brushing from the gum towards the tooth;
• dental floss/superfloss/interdental brushes;
• oral irrigator.

At the end of these operations you can also give the gums a massage with your finger, just as with brushing, from the gum towards the tooth. It is a relaxing procedure for you and at the same time useful for stimulating the blood supply to the gum.

In closing, I wish you success in the process of learning correct dental hygiene, and we will see each other again at 6 months or a year for a check-up appointment, at which I hope I will be able to congratulate you on the correct hygiene you will have acquired in the meantime. At first you may be daunted because it takes too long and feel tempted to give up, but if you persevere and introduce these simple manoeuvres into your daily routine, you will find that you can keep your teeth healthy for longer. Leading by example matters: if I can carry out this hygiene routine, at home or while travelling, absolutely every day, then so can you.

With kind regards, your doctor