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

Gum Disease Overview

Gum disease is a familiar term that is often associated with poor brushing and flossing routines.  Gum disease is a silent disease that penetrates deep into the soft tissue and effects tooth roots and jaw bone health when left untreated. 

How would you know if you are affected by gum disease?  Are you familiar with the symptoms? If you are drawing a blank, chances are you stand to gain from learning more about this very common disease, and what you can do to prevent it!

Gum Disease - A Common Condition

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by the colonization of disease causing bacteria infecting the gums and soft tissue of the mouth. Disease causing bacteria are always present in the mouth, and it is up to us to keep them at bay by practicing good dental habits. 

If we neglect our daily brushing and flossing routine the bacteria known as plaque becomes a sticky film that adheres to our teeth.   Plaque hardens to become tarter.  Tarter at the gum line affects the health of the gum tissue.  The tissue becomes inflamed, bleeds easily, and will eventually begin to pull away from the teeth.  This is our body’s immune response to protect itself from infection.  It’s important to catch gum disease in the earliest stage (gingivitis), before it becomes periodontitis.   Periodontitis is related to serious health conditions including congestive heart failure, diabetes, and stroke. 

An Ounce of Gum Disease Prevention

In the case of gum disease, an ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure. This is because while the earlier stage of gum disease, gingivitis, is treatable. The later more aggressive stages (periodontitis and advanced periodontitis) cause irreversible damage to the mouth and jaw structure. Professional organizations, such as the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, recommend maintaining preventive habits and cleanings. Brushing twice a day and flossing help prevent disease-causing bacteria from setting up camp in the first place!  However, no matter how well your oral hygiene is your dental care provider is necessary to remove tarter and treat issues before they have an opportunity to become a dental emergency.  We recommend that patients visit their dentists for cleanings two to three times a year.

Controlling the Infection 

As gum disease progresses, it wreaks more and more havoc on the mouth. In addition to swollen, bleeding gums, there is a considerable amount of discomfort, pain and inconvenience that comes with periodontal disease.  Biting and chewing may become difficult, and a person's overall well-being will be at risk to increased chances of infection spreading through the body. At that stage, the aim of gum disease treatment is to control the infection, and try to address some of the issues it has caused. This may include deep cleanings, periodontal surgery or even extractions of hopeless teeth.  Metropolitan Periodontists, P.A. will treat advanced gum disease with a laser procedure known as LANAP and/or the use of a PerioScope.  At Metropolitan Periodontists, P.A. we do our best to save teeth.  If saving a tooth is not an option we are able to provide patients other treatment plans that will best fit their needs.

Of course, any treatment means patients themselves need to practice good dental hygiene and at-home care. Changing behaviors, such as smoking, will also improve treatment outcome.

Metropolitan Periodontists, P.A., Mark M. Wilson wants people to understand gum health. As a gum disease specialist, Dr. Wilson is equipped to treat your gum tissue concerns. Our office is conveniently located in Minneapolis and welcomes patients from the surround area. Contact us today!