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oral hygiene

How to Use a Rubbertip Stimulator for Better Gum Health

Has your dental professional ever recommended using a rubbertip? A rubbertip stimulator can promote healthy and firm gums by massaging the gingival tissues and stimulating the blood flow. It works great around the margins of crowns and bridges that might be slighly ledgy and collecting plaque that you’re missing while brushing.
 
Here’s how to use a rubber tip for dental care:
– Wet the Tip (Optional): You may dampen the rubber tip slightly for easier use and to reduce friction.
– Angle the Tip: Hold the rubber tip at a 45-degree angle to your gums.
– Insert Gently: Place the tip at the gum line, gently inserting it into the sulcus (the space between your teeth and gums).
– Massage the Gums: Use a gentle, circular motion to massage the gums. This helps stimulate blood flow and can aid in gum health.
– Clean (Jiggle/Wiggle) Between Each Tooth: Move the rubber tip between your teeth to help remove debris and plaque. Be careful not to apply too much pressure.
– Rinse After Use: Rinse your mouth with water after using the rubber tip to wash away any loosened debris.
– Clean the Rubbertip: After use, clean the rubber tip thoroughly to maintain hygiene. Store it in a dry place.
 
Using a rubbertip can enhance your oral care routine, especially for gum health and cleaning hard-to-reach areas!

How to Use Your Proxabrush

– Choose the Right Size: Select a proxabrush with a size suitable for the spaces between your teeth.
 
– Insert the Brush: Gently insert the proxabrush into the space between your teeth. Avoid forcing it, as this could damage your gums.
 
– Angle the Brush: Hold the proxabrush at a slight angle towards the gum line. This helps clean both the tooth surface and the gum area effectively.
 
– Brush Gently: Move the proxabrush back and forth gently, applying light pressure. Make sure to brush both sides of the gap between the teeth. Repetition is key: Spend 10-15 seconds or 10-15 strokes between each tooth!
 
– Rinse and Repeat: After brushing, rinse the proxabrush under water to remove debris. Continue this process for each space between your teeth.
 
-Store Properly: Store the proxabrush in a clean, dry place to prevent bacteria growth.
 
Incorporating proxabrushes into your daily routine can significantly enhance your oral hygiene, especially if you have periodontal disease! #brittenperio #clearwaterperiodontist #oralhygiene #oralhealth

The Oral Hygiene Olympics: Gold Medalists!

🏅 The Oral Hygiene Olympics: Gold Medalists!🏅

Welcome to the Oral Hygiene Olympics, where we honor the unsung heroes that keep our smiles bright and healthy! After fierce competition, we’re excited to announce the gold medalists in each category:
🥇 Best Toothpaste: Clinpro rx toothpaste – This gold medal goes to the toothpaste that not only cleans but also leaves your breath fresh and invigorated, ensuring you’re ready for any close-up moment!
🥇 Top Toothbrush: Philips Sonicare – With its perfectly angled bristles and ergonomic design, this toothbrush takes the gold for providing a superior clean with every brush stroke.
🥇 Flossing Favorite: Unwaxed floss- Winning the gold for effortlessly sliding between teeth, Coco Floss and Listerine Ultraclean floss removes plaque like a true champion, ensuring no food particles are left behind. Honorable mentions are Dr. Tung’s floss and Risewell floss!
🥇 Interdental aids: Taking the top spot for its ability to eliminate germs between the teeth GUM® brand Proxabrushes® and/or Soft-Picks ® are safe and easy to use for cleaning between natural teeth and around crowns, bridges, dental implants and orthodontic appliances.
🥇 Innovative Gadgets: TePe specialty brushes & rubbertip stimulators and The Plaque Buster- these specially angled brushes make the most challenging oral care both effective and exciting.
Congratulations to all the winners! Keep your oral hygiene routine at the top of the podium with these gold medalists, and enjoy a healthy, winning smile every day! 🦷✨

Understanding Toothbrush Abrasion

Understanding Toothbrush Abrasion

Toothbrush abrasion refers to the wear and damage to the teeth and gums caused by improper or overly aggressive tooth brushing. This condition can lead to a variety of dental problems, including:
 
– Enamel Erosion: Over time, excessive brushing can erode the enamel, the hard outer layer of the teeth, making them more susceptible to decay and sensitivity.
– Gum Recession: Vigorous brushing can cause the gums to recede, exposing the roots of the teeth, which are more sensitive and prone to decay.
– Dentin Exposure: With enamel erosion and gum recession, the underlying dentin layer becomes exposed, leading to increased tooth sensitivity and risk of cavities.
– Tooth Wear: Abrasive brushing can cause visible wear on the surfaces of the teeth, affecting their appearance and function.
 
Preventing Toothbrush Abrasion
 
– Use a Soft-bristled Toothbrush: Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles to minimize abrasion on teeth and gums.
– Adopt Proper Brushing Technique: Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and use gentle, circular motions rather than harsh back-and-forth scrubbing.
– Limit Brushing Time and Frequency: Brush for two minutes, twice a day. Avoid brushing more than three times a day as it can cause more harm than good.
– Choose a Non-abrasive Toothpaste: Some toothpaste contains abrasive particles. Opt for those labeled as gentle or for sensitive teeth.
– Use Light Pressure: Apply only gentle pressure when brushing. If the bristles of your toothbrush splay out over time, you might be brushing too hard,
– Consider Electric Toothbrushes: Electric toothbrushes often come with pressure sensors and timers to help ensure you brush gently and for the correct amount of time. We love the Philips Sonicare!
If you suspect you have toothbrush abrasion, it’s important to consult your dentist. They can assess the extent of the damage and recommend appropriate treatments, such as desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride treatments, or in severe cases, gum grafting or dental restorations to repair loss of gum tissue and/or worn teeth.

Good Oral Hygiene = Good Overall Health

Did you know? Many serious illnesses may be associated with your oral health.
 
Taking good care of your oral health benefits so much more than just your mouth. That’s why building healthy habits—and sticking to them—is vital. Clinical studies have shown links between poor oral health and pregnancy, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, so keeping gum disease in check is a key part of looking after your overall wellness.
Get to know the early signs of gum disease
-Bleeding gums when you floss or brush
-Red, swollen and tender gums
-Persistent bad breath or taste
 
Experiencing any of these symptoms? Give us a call to set up an appointment.
 
Small steps with a big impact:
 
BRUSH
The right tools and techniques make all the difference—talk with us about how to improve your brushing.
INTERDENTAL CLEANING
The spaces in between your teeth are home to harmful bacteria, so clean them thoroughly for healthy gums.
CHECK-UPS
Even with the best at-home care, you should see your dentist and dental hygienist at your personalized recommended intervals.

Managing Periodontitis at Home

Studies show power toothbrushes are much more effective at cleaning teeth by removing plaque and stain effectively, particularly for those who have a history of tooth decay, gum disease, difficulty brushing or who have limited manual dexterity. Dr. Britten highly recommends the Sonicare® powerbrush, as it is shaped like a traditional toothbrush head, and aids in effective plaque removal and gum stimulation and massage.
 
Watch this quick video on why Sonicare is such a great brush!
 
Simple Oral Hygiene Tips:
  • Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes.
  • Clean in between your teeth thoroughly to remove harmful bacteria.
  • Replace your brush head every three months for optimal results.
  • Visit the dental office regularly to monitor and address your periodontitis.

Products We Love: TePe Universal Care Brush

The TePe Universal Care brush has a unique contra-angled handle to enable easy access for hard-to-reach areas and a slim brush head design to fit in narrow areas. It is optimal for implants, under bridges, retroclined teeth, lingual braces or retainer, tongue-side lower molars to prevent gag reflex.

Available on Amazon.com or TePe.com.

Oral Hygiene Products We Love

Dental Floss:

Tight spaces/Good for those spaces that other floss shreds easily. Usually available at Target, CVS, Publix, Walmart and Walgreens. Order online at Amazon here:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012O4XSNA/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_3AABCRTTNJ19Z3PYXDTV?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

A great, thin, unwaxed floss, POH dental floss: https://buypoh.com/floss/

GUM expanding floss: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F3YBGQK/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_7H1DJ1E1T7PDV3BDFZ1B

Hayden expanding floss: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W6X77J7/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_9VxtFbXM2P084

Dr. Tung’s expanding floss:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016790E7Q/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_V1xtFb19B30YV

Coco Floss:  https://cocofloss.com

Bridge & Implant Floss Threaders:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DURFAFU/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_.LbnFbM70S55C

GUM Easy Threader Floss with threader attached for tight spaces:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KPZWBR9/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_UKTlFbYGFPKGN

PROXYSOFT floss – 3 in 1, periodontal floss, or Bridge and Implant Floss:  https://proxysoft.com/shop/

INTERDENTAL BRUSHES AND SOFTPICKS

SOFTPICKS (Original, Advanced, or Wider Spaces):  https://www.gumbrand.com/between-teeth-cleaning.html

GUM Brand PROXABRUSHES (most common sizes Tight (414), moderate (612) tapered wide (614) or extra wide (618):  https://www.gumbrand.com/between-teeth-cleaning/interdental-brushes.html

GUM Proxabrush handle with different size inserts (most common sizes Tight (414), moderate (612) tapered wide (614) or extra wide (618):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQB76PP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_16bnFbD64X22F

TEPE proxabrushes (9 different sizes available!):  https://www.tepeusa.com/collections/tepe-interdental-brushes-original

OTHER IMPORTANT ORAL HYGIENE AIDS:

GUM Brand rubbertip stimulator:  https://www.gumbrand.com/gum-stimulator.html
IMPLANT CARE: 

Oral B end tufted brush:  https://www.safcodental.com/catalog/preventives/end-tuft-toothbrushes/oral-b-end-tufted-toothbrush

TEPE compact end tufted brush:  https://www.tepeusa.com/products/tepe-compact-tuft

GUM brand tongue scraper:  https://www.gumbrand.com/gum-dual-action-tongue-cleaner.html

Proxysoft Bridge & Implant Floss:  https://proxysoft.com/product/proxysoft-bridge-implant-cleaners/

TEPE Universal Care Brush:  https://www.tepeusa.com/products/tepe-universal-care

Thinner floss with threader attached for tight spaces:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KPZWBR9/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_UKTlFbYGFPKGN

GUM Brand PROXABRUSHES (most common sizes Tight (414), moderate (612) tapered wide (614) or extra wide (618):  https://www.gumbrand.com/between-teeth-cleaning/interdental-brushes.html

TEPE proxabrushes (9 different sizes available!):  https://www.tepeusa.com/collections/tepe-interdental-brushes-original

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