Lisa Reviews Brushing and Flossing

Every patient thinks they know how to brush their teeth, and some do but most do not brush their teeth long enough. They think they are brushing for the recommended two minutes, but they are usually only brushing about 45 seconds.  You cannot do a quality job brushing in 45 seconds.  If a patient has gum disease or a history of gum disease then they have to brush even longer than two minutes and work harder than somebody who has never had a history of gum disease. 

If I notice a patient is having a hard time removing plaque from their teeth when they brush or floss, I will put a dye on their teeth that stains their plaque and ask the patient to remove it so they know what it takes to thoroughly clean their teeth at home.

When it comes to flossing, I try not to have anybody be a slave to the mirror, because if you are a slave to the mirror then you will only floss your teeth in the bathroom.  Instead, I try to teach them by feel.  I put the floss in their mouth and I floss their teeth for them and then I have the patient floss their teeth and give them feedback.

We also have other supplies to help patients with their oral care. For example, if a patient has larger spaces between their teeth, I will give them a tool that will clean those spaces better than flossing alone would.

What a patient does on a daily basis at home is far more important than what I can ever do for them. Not every patient is the same each patient deserves oral care instructions that fit their needs. I feel demonstrating brushing and flossing and then having patients repeat what I just showed them is the best way to teach them great oral care habits.

Lisa, Registered Dental Hygienist

Metropolitan Periodontists

Minneapolis, MN