Springvale Clinic's Posts (3)

Sort by

Most Common Flossing Mistakes to Avoid

Flossing is one of the vital actions to take for you to maintain utmost oral health. The Australian Dental Association recommends daily flossing for optimal oral health. Flossing can help in removing plaque from those areas that are hard to reach while brushing. It is not only essential for you to floss, but it is also important that you do it correctly. When flossing is done incorrectly, it could harm your oral health and even undermine your entire body health too.

There are common flossing mistakes that people make,and they need to avoid — for instance, when you fail to floss both sides of your teeth. When you slide down the flossing thread and then pull it up, you are only getting approximately fifty percent of the cleaning done. Instead, you should move the flossing thread up between two teeth to ensure that you are cleaning the side of both teeth. Another common mistake is flossing your teeth roughly. When you are flossing, it is important that you clean off the plaque,however, do not treat your teeth and gums as if they are enemy that needs to be attacked.

Additionally, do not rely on flossing as a sole dental cleanser. As much as flossing is an essential part of your daily oral care routine, it should not be used on its own to clean your teeth. It is still important to brush your teeth twice every day for two minutes, rinse with mouthwash and visit the dentist twice annual for professional cleaning. Using the same section of your flossing thread between all of the teeth is another common mistake that people make. When you are flossing, you are getting rid of bacteria and food debris between your teeth and underneath your gum line.

So, when you use the same section of the flossing thread for all of your teeth, you are spreading around the bacteria. Moreover, flossing too many times can risk damaging your gums and prolonging gum sensitivity. Floss once in a day right after brushing to avoid hurting your gums. Quitting flossing at the sign of bleeding gums is another common mistake made by most patients. If you have not flossed in a while, it is common for you to bleed a bit. Bleeding gums often indicate oral disease which is caused by bacteria build-up and plaque which is what flossing is meant to prevent.

Lastly, keep in mind that flossing is an essential part of your daily oral care routine. For optimal dental health, visit a dentist regularly for clean-up and check-up. At Springvale Dental Clinic, we are a true family oral care practice, and we warmly welcome you and your family. Your dental health and smile are important to us, and we strive for you to thrive.

Read more…

What Is Dry Brushing ? Should You Do IT?

Traditionally, human beings used toothbrushes from twigs to brush their teeth. They sometimes added some crushed abrasives such as salt, egg shells and charcoal to try and make their teeth clean. Toothpaste as we know it was first introduced in the 1800’s.

Today, we associate the tasty flavors that come with different types of toothpaste with the cleanness of our teeth and mouth. However, nothing could be further from the truth.Our mouth will feel and taste fresh after brushing with flavorful toothpaste, but this doesn’t always mean that it is clean.

Dry brushing is a very effective method of brushing your teeth. A majority of dentists has recommended it all over the globe. It ensures optimal oral health.

What is Dry Brushing?

In simple terms, dry brushing is brushing your teeth without using toothpaste or water. It may sound unappealing,but studies reveal that it is a more effective way of brushing teeth compared to brushing with water and toothpaste.

A study was conducted on 128 participants for a period of six months. The participants experienced a 67% reduction of plaque build-up and bleeding associated with gingivitis reduced by 50%.

Reasons Why You Should Do Dry Brushing

  • You Will Brush Longer With no Toothpaste

A majority of people brush their teeth unconsciously without necessarily knowing exactly how they are doing it. 30 seconds may feel like a whole two minutes. However, when dry brushing your teeth, it may take you eight to ten minutes before you can dislodge a food particle from in between your teeth. In the process, this will help remove plaque and keep your teeth cleaner.

  • You Will Brush Your Teeth More Evenly

Brushing with toothpaste results in a lot of bubbles and thus it becomes quite challenging for you to see what you are doing. This easily makes you miss some areas of your mouth. You will find yourself brushing your teeth more evenly during dry brushing.

  • You, Will, Have a Way to Use Your Tongue and Measure Plaque

Toothpaste and other wetting agents have a way of numbing your tongue so that you can feel as if your mouth is clean. However, that may not always be the case. Dry brushing will help you feel areas that still have some plaque with your tongue.

Tips to Follow While Dry Brushing

  • Start with a dry toothbrush: A toothbrush with some soft bristles will help remove sticky bacteria plaque more effectively compared to a wet one. You can soften the bristles before brushing by running your thumb through them.
  • Position Your Toothbrush at a 45-degree angle: Brushing with a toothbrush positioned at a 45-degree angle will help you reach the plaque hiding near the gum line.
  • Brush from Inside out: It is easy to miss plaque that is nearest to your tongue. So, start brushing from inside so that you can remove much of it as much as you can.

Bottom Line

Brushing your teeth is important for optimal oral health. It helps to prevent tooth decay and tooth loss. It is recommended that you dry brush so that you can keep plaque and tartar away from your mouth. By the way, you can still use water and toothpaste to brush your teeth but make sure you do it at a different time than when you dry brush.

If you have any questions or concerns about dry brushing, feel free to contact our dentists in Springvale. You can also contact our dentist in Keysborough if you happen to come from the suburb or its environs.

Read more…