What is the proper oral care routine?

Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Clean between teeth regularly, aiming for once a day. Use dental floss or a special brush or wooden or plastic pick recommended by a dental professional. Or try a floss holder, floss threader, or water flosser.

How to make your teeth look good before a dentist appointment?

You can make your teeth look good before a dental appointment by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash . Brushing and flossing will eliminate any food particles stuck between the teeth, and mouthwash will freshen up the mouth. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to make your teeth look good the day of.

What is the golden rule for oral hygiene?

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste . Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake. Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventative care.

Do you floss before or after brushing?

Flossing before brushing helps to get rid of more bacteria and reduces your risk of gum disease in the long run. Reveal areas that need attention: Break out the floss before loading up your toothbrush, and you might notice a few extra details about your teeth.

Should you use mouthwash before or after brushing?

The Mayo Clinic recommends using mouthwash after brushing and flossing your teeth . However, the National Health Service (NHS) recommends avoiding mouthwash right after brushing, since this may wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste. Instead, the NHS recommends using mouthwash at a different time of day.

What is the basic package of oral care?

This document outlines a basic package of oral care (BPOC) for disadvantaged populations. The BPOC has three components: Oral Urgent Treatment (OUT) to provide emergency pain relief and referrals, Affordable Fluoride Toothpaste (AFT) to prevent cavities, and Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) to restore teeth.

What is the oral care order?

Flossing, Brushing Then Mouthwash There are several strengths to this order that make it generally the best option of the three. If you floss first, you're more likely to give it the attention and time it deserves.

How to deep clean your mouth before the dentist?

Squeeze a strip of toothpaste onto a soft-bristled brush. Avoid using hard-bristled brushes, which can be too abrasive and damage tooth enamel. Start with the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, beginning at your gumline. Gently brush your gums back and forth before moving up the surface of your teeth.

Is it OK to brush your teeth before a dentist appointment?

Generally speaking, brushing your teeth before a dental appointment is a good idea . Not only does it help remove food particles and plaque, but it also helps freshen your breath. After all, our dentists and hygienists appreciate a clean mouth to work in!

How to get plaque off teeth before dentist?

Brushing with baking soda can safely and effectively remove plaque. While still abrasive, baking soda toothpaste is not as hard as the enamel that makes up teeth and can remove plaque without damaging the enamel.

What are the 5 phases of dental hygiene care?

Dental hygiene care consists of five essential phases: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation . These phases ensure comprehensive care, addressing every aspect of oral health. Understanding these phases helps you appreciate the meticulous work behind maintaining dental health.

Proper Oral Care Before & After a Dentist Appointment

Things to Do Before Going to The Dentist

Once you;ve scheduled your next appointment, the way you care for your teeth matters in the interim. This list of do’s and don’ts will show you how to prepare for a dental procedure:

Brushing Teeth Before The Dentist

If you’re wondering if you should brush your teeth before going to the dentist, the answer is yes. You absolutely can brush (and floss) your teeth the day of your next office visit. However, if you are planning to undergo a full teeth cleaning, any residual food particles or stains will be effectively removed whether you brush your teeth or not.

Eating Before Going to the Dentist

The timing of your appointment will dictate whether or not you should have anything to eat before your visit. If you are particularly anxious of undergoing dental work, then it’s recommended to keep an empty stomach to avoid becoming nauseous in the dentist chair.

Proper Oral Care Techniques

As a general best practice, it’s recommended to adopt a regular oral hygiene routine which consists of proper brushing and flossing technique. Leading up to your next dentist appointment, make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss at least once either when waking in the morning or before going to sleep at night.

Following the listed steps below will ensure you properly look after your teeth before your next dentist appointment so as to avoid any pain or injury before being operated on with fine tools.

Can you brush your teeth before surgery?

You may brush your teeth and floss before your dentist appointment. However, please note that if you’re scheduled for a regular cleaning, your dental hygienist will be assigned to floss your teeth thoroughly.

Can I eat before going to the dentist?

It is recommended you do not have anything to eat or drink (except for water) at least 5 hours before your scheduled appointment. This will prevent food debris from lodging in your teeth, which can irritate you during a cleaning and give your dentist a little extra work to do.

Smoking Before Dentist Appointment

Do not smoke at least a few hours prior to your dentist appointment. It is recommended not to smoke at all, since cigarette smoke contains other harmful chemicals that can wear your enamel over time.

Dental Care for Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant, you need to follow careful instructions before scheduling your next dentist visit. Since you may have heightened senses during this period, you may not be able to undergo certain procedures which would require the use of anesthetics since they can negatively harm your gestating child. Check with your dentist to find out what services you are still able to receive while carrying.
If you are expecting to undergo major oral maxillofacial surgery, your dentist might recommend not brushing or flossing your teeth the day of your appointment. You should also avoid eating or drinking any fluids for at least 12-24 hours prior to your procedure, which especially applies if you are typically anxious when visiting the dentist.

What to Do After a Dentist Appointment

Depending on your scheduled procedure, it may be necessary to temporarily abide by certain Proper Oral Care routines in the interim while you are recovering from possible numbness, pain, and swelling. However, once the side effects of your treatment subside, you should resume your normal oral hygiene routine by brushing twice daily and flossing once each day.

How to Relieve Pain After Dental Cleaning

If you need to relieve pain after a procedure, especially if you just underwent a root canal or wisdom tooth removal, you can ask your dentist for prescribed numbing agents to take home with you to use over the course of the next few days while you recover. In cases where oral maxillofacial surgery is required, your dentist might already prescribe you mild oral sedatives to take at home.

How Long After Fluoride Can I Drink Coffee?

If you’ve just endured an oral cleaning followed by a fluoride varnish, you might be reluctant to consume any of the culprit food and beverages that can lead to lasting stains, including coffee, tea, and red wine. You can eliminate these substances from your diet altogether if you wish to preserve the whiteness of your smile, but if these foods are part of your daily regimen, then it is safe to consume them 2-3 hours after your varnish.

What to Eat After Teeth Cleaning

Depending on the type of work you just got done at the dentist, it may be necessary to eliminate certain hard, crunchy, or crispy foods until you’ve fully recovered from the side effects of your procedure. Implants and cavities might also need some time to settle and harden into your teeth before chewing anything at all. As a general rule of thumb, it is safe to consume soft substances after a dentist appointment, including:
- Oatmeal
- Rice
- Bananas
- Jello
- Soup
- Any foods that do not require much chewing

Dental Care Mouthguard Instructions

If you’ve been custom-fitted for a mouthguard to help you resolve the side effects of conditions such as bruxism (grinding teeth) while sleeping, make sure you brush and floss your teeth before inserting your mouthguard before bed. You may not eat or drink anything while you are wearing your mouthguard.

If you need a mouthguard to help you while you’re sleeping but can’t afford to have one custom-fitted to your mouth, visit your local big-box retailer to find a standard mouthguard. It may be uncomfortable to wear at first, but it can protect your teeth from chips and breaks if you suffer from anxiety symptoms during wakefulness or rest.

Dental Advice for Patients

By taking Proper Oral Care of your mouth throughout the year in between your routine dental visits. Proper brushing and flossing techniques can save you a ton of money in the long run by preventing the need to have expensive surgery performed on receding gums or cavity-ridden teeth.

Tooth Brushing Technique For Recession

If you have started to notice the recession of your gum line as a result of inconsistent flossing or long-term exposure to harmful activities such as smoking. Then it may be necessary to visit a periodontist to have a deep cleaning procedure performed, to eliminate any hard-to-reach bacteria under the gumline that may be the cause of your receding gums.

It is recommended to wait at least 30 minutes to an hour after your last meal to brush or floss your teeth, since the acids on your teeth from the food you just ate can actually wear your enamel if your saliva does not have enough time to neutralize these acids.
For Proper Oral Care Most people prefer to floss before brushing so as to loosen any embedded food particles that may not be reached with a toothbrush.
Choose a toothbrush that contains soft bristles so that you do not harm your gums or scrape your teeth during brushing.
Make sure to move your toothbrush around your tooth in a circular fashion without pressing too firmly on your teeth, which can cause pain if you have a sensitive mouth.
After you are finished brushing, you can use an antibacterial or antiseptic mouthwash to help you dislodge any residual debris that may have been missed during brushing and flossing.

Proper Oral Care Before & After a Dentist Appointment | GregSkeens DDS (2024)