Chapter eight

Oral hygiene
Brush Your Teeth

A Guide to a Healthy Smile

 You will need:
• A tooth brush
• Tooth Paste
• Water
 Tooth Brushes

There are regular tooth brushes and electric tooth

brushes.
 How to Choose a Toothbrush
Steps:
1. Bristles are the most important consideration when
buying a toothbrush. Choose soft bristles, which will
last long and not hurt gums.
2. Select a brush head that is small enough to access
hard-to-reach areas.
3. The bristle pattern and handle design should be
determined by personal preference and habit.
4. Keep in mind that there is no evidence that electronic
toothbrushes work more effectively than conventional
ones. However, people who are handicapped or who
wear braces may prefer them.
5. Replace your toothbrush once every three months or
whenever it becomes worn.
 Tooth pastes
• Fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride is effective in the prevention of dental caries. Since we
are all susceptible to dental caries, we all need fluoride
toothpaste.
Children should use children toothpaste which contains a lower
concentration of fluoride. This can prevent them from ingesting
fluoride accidentally.

• Desensitizing toothpaste
Desensitizing toothpaste should only be used when there is
tooth sensitivity.

• Whitening toothpaste
Unless it is under the dentist's supervision, we should not use
whitening toothpaste. Long-term use of whitening toothpaste will
roughen the tooth surfaces.
 What do you do?
• Wet the bristles on your tooth brush
• Squeeze a pea size squirt of tooth paste
on your bristles
• Brush the all surfaces of every tooth with a
circular motion
• Rinse with water and spit
 how to brush
Thorough and correct tooth brushing is important for
healthy teeth. A bad brushing technique might damage
your teeth or gums.

Bass cleaning technique for adults:

Place the toothbrush at the gum margin
at an angle of 45°. Press the bristles
against the teeth and gums softly. Move
the toothbrush with small, vibratory to
and from motions. Thus, food residues
and dental plaque will be removed
thoroughly but gently.
Brush your teeth systematically:
start with the outer surfaces,
next the inner surfaces and lastly
the chewing surfaces. Always
start with the back teeth as they
are most difficult to clean.

For cleaning the inner surfaces

of the front teeth, put the
toothbrush in an upright
position and place the bristles
at the gum margin. Move the
toothbrush in the direction:
from the gums to the tooth.
 MOI method for kids

As the motor activity of small children is

in its development still they can not
brush their teeth on their own
satisfactory. Therefore, dentists
recommend that parents supervise the
tooth brushing and clean again
afterwards until the child enters school.
Masticatory (chewing) surfaces:

• Start with the chewing

surfaces using simple to
and from movements.
Brush the top right side
at first, then the top left
side, the bottom right
side, and finally the
bottom left side. Start at
the back and brush
slowly towards the front.
 Outer surfaces:

• Perform small, circular

movements on the outer
surfaces of the posterior
and lateral teeth with the
brush whilst the dentition is
slightly opened. Once
again, start at the back and
brush slowly towards the
front. To brush the incisors,
close your teeth because
then it is easier to perform
the circular movements.
 Inner surfaces:

• For cleaning the

inner surfaces, put
the toothbrush in
an upright position
and move it in the
direction: from the
gums to the tooth
 When can you brush?

Make sure you brush your teeth at least two times a day.

In the morning
Before bedtime
 Flossing Facts:
1. Most people think they know how
to use dental floss.
2. Most people use dental floss
incorrectly.
3. Most people are never taught how to
use
dental
4. Most floss.do not use dental floss
people
consistently, correctly, and EVERY
DAY.
Let’s try flossing together
 Wind 18" of floss around
the middle fingers of each
hand.
Pinch floss between
thumbs and index fingers,
leaving a 1"- 2" length in
between.

 Use thumbs to direct

floss between upper
teeth.
Gently guide floss between the
teeth by using a zig-zag motion.
Do not snap floss between your
teeth.

Thumbs up for upper

teeth.

Pointer fingers down for

lower teeth.
Curve the floss around the side
of the tooth. Keep the floss
against the side of the tooth in
a “C” shape.

Slide the floss all the way

under the gum until you feel
some resistance, then scrape
down several times.
Arrows show the direction to
floss.
 Flossing Review

 Use
Use 16”-18”
16”-18” of
of dental
dental floss.
floss.

 Curve the floss against

the tooth, Form a “C” shape.

 Carefully slide the floss up under

the gum and scrape down on the side
of the tooth.

 Use dental floss consistently.

Interdental cleaning with dental sticks

• Moisten the tip of the dental stick in

the mouth. Insert the stick with the
narrow flat side against the gums.
Carefully move the stick back and
forth to clean between the teeth.
 Mouth Rinse

Depending on the active ingredients they contain, different

types of mouth rinse can be used to prevent dental caries,
periodontal disease or reduce tooth sensitivity.

Fluoride mouth rinse

Anti-plaque mouth rinse

Desensitizing mouth rinse

 Which type is suitable for you

Most people don't need to use mouth rinse. Before

you choose to use mouth rinse, please seek your
dentist's advice.

For most people, as long as they thoroughly brush

their teeth in the morning and before bed with fluoride
toothpaste everyday, there is no need to use fluoride
and anti-plaque mouth rinse.
For people who are prone to dental caries, having severe
dental caries, wearing orthodontic appliances or undergoing
radiotherapy, they need to use fluoride mouth rinse
according to the dentist's instructions in order to obtain
additional protection against dental caries.

Desensitizing mouth rinse is only suitable for people with

tooth sensitivity. It is advisable to consult your dentist before
you choose to use it and follow his instructions in using
desensitizing mouth rinse.
Pit and fissure sealing
Pits and fissures provide a sheltered environment in
which dental plaque can develop so that these areas are
particularly susceptible to dental decay. Fissure sealants
are materials designed to prevent pit and fissure caries.
They are applied, mainly to the occlusal surfaces of the
teeth, to obliterate the occlusal fissures, thus removing
the sheltered environment which favours caries
progression.
 Clinical techniques
1. Isolation of teeth
2. Cleaning the teeth
3. Etching
4. Washing
5. Drying
6. Mixing the resin
7. Sealant application
8. Checking occlusion