Oral Hygiene

There is a wide spread community belief that flossing and tooth brushing is simple and that children are able to look after themselves. It is also a belief that brushing or scrubbing teeth numerous times a day works best. These beliefs however do not explain why dental disease keeps dentists busy and stretches family budgets relentlessly. 

However  

• Bacteria take nearly five days to form infectious plaques. 

• It is plaques that 'eat' into teeth, causing tooth decay (caries) and gum disease (periodical disease), a result of a fermentation process that dissolves the tissue. This however takes time to develop. 
  
  
• Given plaques development time, we advise that flossing and brushing once a day is more than enough, as three times a week works for good oral health. It really is about having effective techniques. 
  
  
• It is common to equate the toothpaste taste and post brushing smoothness with good oral health. This is not always so. It had more to do with social confidence. We can help with this too!
  
  
• Explanation of good technique is seldom enough and for most people practise and guided coaching is needed.
  
  
• Learning new things always puts us outside our comfort zone so naturally there is resistance. Add to this, the embarrassment of having someone watch us in the very personal act of cleaning teeth - it is understandable that coaching sessions are often avoided. 
  
  
• Coaching sessions are simply to assist in the development of techniques that enable dental disease prevention. 
  
  
• No one wants to afford dental repairs but everyone can afford the cost of dental disease control. 
  
  
• Teeth are strengthened by fluoride. If you are living in an area that does not have fluoridated water, fluoride drops for babies, tablets for toddlers and weekly fluoride rinses for adolescents and adults will assist in preventing tooth decay.
  
  
• Many teeth develop small pits and fissures that cannot be cleaned. It is worthwhile having such fissures sealed. This is done with fissure sealants that are placed without drilling and are a very effective barrier to dental plaques. Fissure sealants work well on both primary and adult teeth and can last longer than fillings. 

  Remember, 
  New plaques take five days to grow and therefore removing plaques is a lifelong discipline that is better seen as control rather that the fleeting prevention. 

Phone and make an appointment with Dental Plaque Fighters at our dental clinic on 5331 6577, we can help you with white fillings, periodontics, cosmetic dentistry Ballarat and more.