Oral hygiene is all about prevention. We hope you agree that prevention is better than cure!

Good oral hygiene is necessary for the prevention of cavities (dental decay), gingivitis (swollen gums), periodontitis (deeper gum disease), and other dental disorders. It also helps to prevent bad breath (halitosis).

Everyone needs good oral hygiene to maintain the health of his or her teeth and mouth.

Keeping your mouth healthy means you will have fewer cavities, minimal or no plaque deposits and healthy, attractive gums.

Oral hygiene consists of both personal (what you do at home on a daily basis) and professional care (what we do in the practice).

Careful brushing and flossing, plus the use of mouthwashes and other devices for cleaning between the teeth when indicated, is designed to prevent build-up of plaque, staining and calculus (tartar).

Teeth should be brushed at least twice daily and flossed at least once per day. Some people may need to do this more often, or special appliances or tools may be recommended to supplement (but not to replace) tooth brushing and flossing. These include special toothpicks, toothbrushes, bottlebrushes, or other devices.

Electric toothbrushes have improved so much in recent years that we routinely recommend their use for the majority of our patients.

Special toothpastes, powders or mouth rinses may be recommended by your dentist or dental hygienist from time to time, depending on their diagnosis of your needs.

Dentures, orthodontic and other appliances must be kept extremely clean at all times. This includes regular brushing and occasionally soaking them in a cleansing solution.

Regular examinations and tooth cleaning by the dentist or dental hygienist is important to remove plaque, staining and hard deposits that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult for a patient to reach on his or her own at home. Professional cleaning includes scaling and polishing. This involves the use of various instruments or devices to loosen and remove deposits from the teeth.

We will only recommend having the teeth professionally cleaned as often as is strictly necessary - for some patients with a severe problem that needs careful monitoring this may be as often as every month. Other patients may only require examinations and professional cleaning every 12 months or more. Your dentist or dental hygienist will constantly monitor your needs and recommend the appropriate intervals between visits.

Good oral hygiene helps to prevent dental and oral disorders, but will often need to be supplemented by intervention from your dentist or dental hygienist. Poorly fitting fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers and dentures can make it impossible to keep teeth clean at home, and problems with the way the teeth bite together [occlusion] can cause teeth to wear or become loose despite the most immaculate home care, so this is very much a partnership between the patient and professional team.

Improperly performed brushing and flossing might result in damage to the teeth and gums.

Always ask your dentist or dental hygienist if you are unsure or require a better explanation of instructions or a demonstration of proper brushing or flossing technique.