Cleaning & Exam

Maintaining strong dental health is important no matter your age. It may sound surprising, but adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases than from cavities. This isn’t a small percentage either, over three out of four adults will develop gum disease at some point in their life. Not only is this statistic saddening, it’s also completely preventable. The best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is by good teeth brushing and flossing techniques performed daily. The problem is that not enough people know how to properly brush and floss their teeth. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are both caused by the buildup of bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Because plaque is colorless, in many cases, it can be hard to identify an issue until it's too late. Plaque isn’t a rare occurrence either, it is constantly forming on your teeth after every meal. By thorough daily brushing and flossing, you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease. At Cypress Family Dental, our friendly staff will not only clean and examine your mouth, we’ll teach you about proper brushing and flossing techniques at affordable dental care prices. You deserve a smile that will last a lifetime.

Position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle while brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth in a circular motion. Do not press too hard while putting the bristles between your teeth. Repeat these instructions while cleaning the inside of the back teeth. To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Remember to softly scrub the surrounding gum tissue. After completing this, you will clean the biting areas of your teeth by using quick, soft strokes. When you have finished this, rinse thoroughly to remove any plaque you might have loosened while brushing.

Flossing is a very effective way to remove plaque from areas between teeth. Lightly wrap the floss around the middle finger of one hand. Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand. To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Insert floss between teeth and use a back and forth motion. Bring the floss to the gum line, then curve it around one tooth. Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance. Move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth. To clean between your bottom teeth, move the floss using the forefingers of both hands. After finishing, rinse your mouth with water to remove plaque and food.

Don’t be concerned if your gums feel sore or even bleed during the process. If your gums hurt while flossing, you could be doing it too hard or pinching the gum. Once you begin flossing regularly, the bleeding should stop. If the bleeding continues, contact our dental clinic immediately.