Maintaining Good Dental Care Habits
Dr. Korinis is only a partner in your dental health. You need to do your part at home to keep periodontal disease at bay. Taking care of your teeth at home can help you maintain your dental health and prevent periodontal or gum disease from developing.
 
Regular home care should include daily brushing and flossing. Brush thoroughly, at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening before going to bed. Floss at least once a day. Proper dental care at home, combined with seeing Dr. Korinis regularly, is your ticket to good dental health.
Dental Health at Home
Only use products that have the ADA (American Dental Association) seal such as toothbrushes, toothpastes, floss, etc. that way you know they are safe and will keep your mouth healthy.
Here are some basic principles to follow:
  • Spend at least three minutes brushing your teeth two times a day. Use a timer if you must to ensure that you're spending enough time on your oral care routine.
  • Use floss at least once a day, every day, to clean between your teeth.
  • Buy ADA-approved dental cleaning tools and toothpaste.
 
The goal of regular home care is to combat the buildup of plaque in and around your teeth and gums, and fight bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. Adults who neglect their teeth and who let plaque buildup often develop infections in the delicate tissue around their teeth.
 
  • A whole arsenal of dental health tools are available in drugstores to help you clean your teeth at home. These range from regular toothbrushes to power toothbrushes, inter-dental cleaners (picks, etc.), waxed and unwaxed floss, oral irrigators, and mouth rinses. You should ask Dr. Korinis which of these tools you might want to include in your daily cleaning routine.

Consequences of Poor Oral Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene invites plaque to accumulate around the base of your teeth and gum line, causing your gums to become red and inflamed that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
 
If you neglect the care of your teeth at home and fail to go to Dr. Korinis regularly, accumulated plaque could potentially lead to the development of empty spaces around your teeth. These spaces could eventually lead to the destruction of bone and other fragile tissues supporting your teeth, and you could lose your teeth.
 
The good news is that being diligent about your dental health care and getting regular oral health exams can prevent plaque from forming and even reverse early gum disease. A plaque-free mouth is a healthy mouth along with regular dental checkups. Proper brushing and flossing are the only effective ways of preventing plaque buildup.
For more information on any topic discussed in this newsletter or to schedule your oral health exam, please contact us at 201-444-2383.  

Please be sure to visit our website at www.bergensmileconfidence.com.

partial content compliments of: www.everydayhealth.com