Dental Hygiene

Oral hygiene plays a significant role in everyone's lives, as it directly influences one's overall health. The best way to maintain ideal oral health is by regular brushing and flossing, and periodic visits to the dental office. This way, Dr. Felahy can keep track of how good or bad your condition is, and suggest necessary treatment procedures.

Brushing and Flossing 

Brushing and flossing usually get rid of a majority of the microbes from the mouth. This significantly reduces the chances of contracting any oral infection, such as cavities, gum diseases, chronic bad breath, etc. However, improper brushing and flossing techniques can leave a lot of microbes in the mouth and can lead to further complications.

It's recommended to use an ADA certified brush, usually in the soft to medium category. This ensures that the bristles of the toothbrush do not cause any cuts or inflammation on the gums. The brush should be held at an angle of 45 degrees and moved in a circular motion so that the hard-to-remove debris between the teeth can be removed effectively. While brushing the inner teeth, use a vertical up and down motion to remove the debris from the teeth. Also, ensure to clean the occlusal grooves (the grooves on the molars and premolars) as they can house a lot of microbes and easily give rise to cavities.

Flossing is an effective technique to remove the debris and tartar from the intersection between two teeth. Floss is a piece of string that is used for this purpose. Wrap the ends of the floss around the middle fingers of both hands to grip them firmly. Slide it in between two teeth using a to and fro motion, but make sure not to cut the gums by going in too deep. Scrub both the sides of the tooth until the debris, and the dental plaque have been removed, and gurgle with water to remove the suspended particles. If it seems confusing, visit Sunset Oak Dental, Dr. Felahy can explain to you all about it.

How can professional oral cleaning benefit you?

No matter how much effort you put into keeping your oral cavity clean, a few microbes always get left behind in the mouth. They can multiply rapidly and form a transparent layer on the teeth, called plaque. When plaque stays on the teeth for a long time, it can develop tartar, which is a dark and sticky matter that is hard to get rid of. Tartar is usually the primary cause of cavities and gum diseases.

Professional cleaning includes scaling and root planing, which are procedures to remove the accumulated plaque and tartar from the teeth and roots, respectively. The dentist uses a hand-held scaling device for this purpose. The tip of the scaling appliance vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies and helps to remove the tartar. When root planing is performed, he administers local anesthesia so that the patient doesn't feel pain.

At Sunset Oak Dental, Dr. Felahy, our family dentist shares with his patients the best practices and services related to dental hygiene. We are happy to serve patients in the areas including Rocklin 95765, Roseville 95677, Lincoln 95765, Penryn 95663, and Loomis 95650 in California. You can schedule an online appointment using our website or call us at (916) 435-5111, and our dental team will be happy to help you maintain a great smile.