Your Dental Health
Brushing your teeth twice a day, cleaning in between the teeth and using a fluoride toothpaste are all important steps to healthy teeth and gums. When it comes to choosing the best brushes and dental hygiene aids, everyone is an individual with different oral hygiene needs. As part of your first visit, Juliette will assess your dental health and design a personal tailor-made dental hygiene plan. There are many types of toothbrushes, interdental cleaning aids, toothpastes and mouthwashes available. Below you will find some information about the types of brushes and dental hygiene aids Juliette most frequently reccommends.
Toothbrushes
Hand Brushes: Adults should choose a small- to medium-sized brush head. This should have soft to medium, multi-tufted, round-ended nylon bristles or 'filaments'. The head should be small enough to reach into all parts of the mouth: especially the back of the mouth where it can be difficult to reach. Children need to use smaller brushes but with the same type of filaments. Toothbrushes should be changed on average every 6-8 weeks or when the bristles become splayed.
Power Brushes: A power brush has an oscillating rotating or vibrating head, which provides a large amount of cleaning action with very little movement needed from the user. Tests have shown that power toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque. Everyone can use a power brush, however, a sonic type power brush is used with a different technique than hand brushing or brushing with a rotating head. It is important not to use too much pressure when brushing with a power brush.
Interdental Cleaning
Interdental Brushes: An interdental brush is a small brush specially designed for cleaning between your teeth, where a regular toothbrush doesn’t reach. Using an interdental brush every day, as a complement to toothbrushing, is an easy and efficient method to keep your gums and teeth fresh and healthy.
Dental Floss: When the space s between your teeth are too small for interdental brushes, floss provides a useful alternative. Dental tape or ribbon is flatter than floss , easier to use and kinder on the gum. It is also very useful for cleaning around the edges of any crowns, bridges or implants. This can be difficult to do effectively using traditional floss and there are now specialised flosses to do the job thoroughly. Ask Juliette which product to use and how to use it properly.
Oral Irrigators: Also known as Water Jets , Oral Irrigators work using a pressurised stream of water or mouthwash to dislodge biofilm from the gum margin, the gaps between the teeth and periodontal pockets. Clinical trials suggest that using a water jet is particularly useful for those with gum (periodontal) pockets and food trapping areas. They are particularly useful for those with braces, dental implants, crowns and bridgework. Most units come with a variety of different tips to facilitate specific types of cleaning. Ask Juliette for a reccommendation.
Natural Dental Health Natural Support of Conventional Treatment
Herbs and Essential Oils: Herbs with medicinal properties are a useful and effective source of treatment for various disease processes. Many drugs used in Western medical science have their origin in medicinal plants. Herbs and essential oils are powerful healing agents and must be used appropriately. Always know what you are taking. Keep in mind that not all plant life is beneficial. Certain herbs may be toxic, especially when used over a long period of time or in too great amounts. Herbs and oils contain active ingredients that may interact negatively with prescribed medications or other remedies. It is wise, therefore, to consult a health-care professional in situations in which you question the appropriateness of the herb or its interaction with other medications.
The only effective long-term treatment of gum disease is to deal with its underlying causes and to keep the teeth and gums clean. Good oral hygiene includes regular professional cleanings. There are however, a number of more biocompatible products containing herbs and essential oils that work well in supporting the clinical treatment of gum disease. Juliette frequently uses complementary products in the treatment and prevention of dental health problems. Juliette will advise on how best to use these products including timing and dose.
Mouthwashes
A mouthwash can complement brushing and flossing, but it’s not a license to abandon proven oral health care. Simply rinsing with water helps remove debris from your teeth. Mouthwash does that, but even rinsing with plain water is good to do after meals and snacks. Mouthwashes fall into two main categories: cosmetic and therapeutic.
Cosmetic mouthwashes: These do not offer the same protection as therapeutic mouthwashes but can be used to achieve a fresh minty taste, particularly after strong tasting foods such as garlic, onions and coffee. They can however,disguise bad breath (halitosis) rather than treat it. They help to keep your mouth fresh but do not help address specific dental health needs.
Therapeutic mouthwash: There are several types of mouthwash which all perform a particular function. There are fluoride mouthwashes which help to strengthen your teeth, antiseptic mouthwashes that help deal with gum disease and prevent plaque build-up. There are mouthwashes formulated for sensitive teeth, dry mouth, sore patches and ulcers and those that treat bad breath .
Juliette will reccommend a mouthwash if one is required and advise how and when to use it.