Dr. Bradley Engle is a Board Certified Periodontist who gives his patients the very best care his specialty and he can offer. He provides the latest proven treatments for his patients who are suffering from periodontal (gum) disease. With some of the most advanced tools and techniques available to treat the disease and a state-of-the-art facility, his extensive skills and experience help patients with gum disease maintain their teeth for an extended time after the initial diagnosis. However, the best treatment for periodontal disease is prevention, and that begins with excellent oral hygiene.
Brush your teeth twice daily
Brush your teeth first with a soft dry brush. A study found that when the teeth were brushed with a dry brush, plaque could be reduced by up to 67% and gum bleeding by 50%. Proper Brushing Technique: Place the brush at a 45% angle to the tooth. Begin at the left on the inside of the bottom arch and work your way around to the right. Move to the top arch, and again brush the inside from left to right. Repeat this procedure with the outside surfaces, left to right, beginning with the very back tooth. Make sure the brush extends under the gumline. Then, from left to right, brush the chewing surfaces of both arches. The left to right consistent pattern ensures no teeth are missed.
This process should take up to two (2) minutes. Make sure to sweep the debris away from the gumline as you are brushing. Put a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on your brush and repeat the procedure. Consider cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper. This is more effective than a toothbrush. Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash, such as Listerine.
Floss every day
Although it may be tempting to skip the dental floss sometimes, it is not a good idea. Flossing is critical to clean the areas that a toothbrush cannot reach, if you skip flossing, you will miss cleaning up to 35% of the surfaces of your teeth. Gently glide the floss between the teeth and rub up and down against each tooth. If you have difficulty flossing, the dental hygienist can give you instructions on how improve your flossing technique. There are additional flossing aids that may be recommended as well, such as a Proxabrush, or interdental pick. Avoid very thin floss, as it cut the gum tissue. Although expensive, a Waterpik flosser is effective, and can increase compliance with daily flossing, especially with children.
Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are as important to preventing gum disease as proper oral hygiene is.
Call (239) 593-2178 and schedule an appointment for a dental exam and cleaning to begin your program for preventing gum disease.