Hello Lake Ozark! For ideal oral health, you need both healthy teeth and healthy gums. Proper oral hygiene helps keep both your teeth and gums in good shape.
When brushing, hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle pointing the bristle tips at the gumline. The bristles of a soft toothbrush can clean the food particles in the pockets in front and in the back of the tooth, but you need floss to clean between the teeth. Make sure you get the floss into the pocket between the teeth. Scrape food particles up and out of the pocket.
Back to toothbrushing: if the toothbrush is not held at the correct angle, the bristles can’t get in the pockets to clean out the bacteria before it turns into enamel-damaging plaque. If plaque multiplies in the pockets around the teeth, the gum will start pulling away.
Eventually, the pockets will become too deep for your toothbrush bristles to reach. Unfortunately, the lower part of the tooth can’t fight decay as well as the part above the gumline.
There is more than one way to damage your teeth—even if the visible parts of your teeth are cavity-free, gum disease can cause issues with the parts you can’t see.
We work with our patients of all ages to establish essential oral hygiene habits.
If you haven’t had a check-up in a while, or are experiencing gum soreness or recession, call Premier Dental & Oral Health Group today at 573-365-0220 to schedule a thorough tooth and gum examination.
During your exam, doctor Massie will measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth. If you already have gum disease, we will help you restore gum health.
At Premier Dental & Oral Health Group in Lake Ozark, we provide comprehensive general and cosmetic dental services. If your teeth and gums are in good shape but you want a lighter smile, ask us about teeth bleaching.
Contact Premier Dental & Oral Health Group:
573-365-0220
Location (Tap To Open In Google Maps):
24 North Shore Dr.
Lake Ozark, Missouri
65049
