6 Toothbrushing Mistakes You're Likely Making

We’re always thrilled to see patients invested in taking care of the oral health. But there are a few brushing related mistakes that are made quite often - we’re talking every day! A few simple tweaks to your routine may make a big difference, so today we’re sharing these common errors to get to on the right track.

1. You use the wrong brush
   First and foremost, we recommend ultrasonic toothbrushes. We can guess with pretty great accuracy if someone uses an electric toothbrush - the results are that obvious! An ultrasonic toothbrush is one that uses a very high frequency of vibration referred to as ultrasound to remove plaque and bacteria from the teeth. Additionally, anything other than a soft brush has the potential to harm not only the teeth but the gums as well. Always use a “soft” bristled brush.

2. You don’t brush at the right time of day
   The most important time to brush your teeth is before bed. Sleep is the longest period of the day you’re not eating and therefore the best time for the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease to “feed”. Another small change can be made for people who brush their teeth before breakfast - suds up those chompers afterwards instead, for optimal oral health.

3. You ignore the rest of your mouth
   Don’t forget to care for your tongue! The tongue can harbor food and bacteria in the tiny crevices between “papillae” (little bumps on the top of your tongue that help grip food while chewing) . Use your tooth brush lightly on your tongue and then follow with a tongue scraper to get rid of harmful bacteria.

4. Not brushing long enough
   The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Two minutes feel like a long time when you’re doing something less stimulating (to most … not us of course!). This is one reason we love electric toothbrushes - they keep you honest with their built in two minutes timers.

5. Not using proper technique
   Many people are surprised to find, later in life, that they’ve been brushing the wrong way. But the truth is, proper brushing and flossing can be a little tricky! Don’t hesitate to get exact recommendation from your dentist or hygienist and ask any questions. We love these conversations! Most commonly, mistakes have to do with the angle of the brush, brush strokes and flossing motions.

6. You don’t replace your brush
   You should replace your brush every 3-4 months, more frequently if the bristles become worn. Worn down bristles aren’t as effective. You should also change your brush out after you’ve been sick.

   As always, the Soulsmile team is available to address any concerns you have about the proper way to brush. Don’t hesitate ask us the next time you visit our office. Feel free to give us a call at 541.482.4995. Happy brushing!

Is Mouth Rinse a Must-Do?

Walking the aisles of an Ashland drugstore will reveal a plethora of mouthwashes and rinses. These products tout dozens of features like germ eradicating ingredients, fluoride or even teeth whitening. Many of our patients wonder about the benefits and if they should make mouthwash a part of their daily routine. 

Our short answer is that brushing and flossing are the two most critical habits that will affect your dental health. If you're doing a good job of these two, mouth wash is not a necessity. 

On the other hand, it simply doesn't hurt to add an additional aspect to your routine, like mouth wash. While it may not live up to every promise advertised, it can be beneficial. We like to advise mouth rinse after flossing to help wash away any excess particles of food which may have been dislodged during your flossing. 

One thing to keep in mind is that mouth wash will not necessarily help with bad breath. Often, bad breath is a result of dryness and the harsh alcohol content of many mouthwashes can worsen this condition. If fresh breath is one of your primary goals, we'd recommend selecting an alcohol-free variety. Plus, its easier to handle! Additionally, chronic bad breath is often a result of plaque build -up. Ask Jordon (or your own fabulous hygienist) at your next cleaning if she thinks this may be contributing to bad breath. If so, improving your brushing and flossing is much more likely to help. 

The bottom line is that you should never substitute proper flossing and brushing with mouthwash. But feel free to supplement your routine with a little rinse! If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact our Ashland dental office. If you want to make an appointment for a check up, you can call us at 541-482-4995. 

What the floss?! Soulsmile Weighs in on Recent News

Let's Talk About Flossing

Surely you've seen the headlines - "Flossing is Nonsense and My Laziness is Vindicated" or "Flossing: Government's Latest Piece of Bad Advice". All this press about flossing stems from an article published this month by the Associated Press (Read it here). Their report points out the weak evidentiary basis for floss as a method of reducing plaque and tooth decay. The American Dental Association responded saying: Trust us, flossing helps.  

In reality, the AP article is less about floss and more about evidence-based medicine. They are correct in that the published and proven evidence for the benefits of floss is poor. One reason for this is that floss has been around since the 19th-century! Recommendations for flossing are based on pretty obvious assumptions: it removes plaque from in between teeth and because plaque leads to gum disease and decay, flossing will improve these conditions. But because our medical standards have risen so greatly in the last centuries, assumptions are not enough - and understandably so. 

Anecdotal evidence and long-standing traditions have been replaced with evidence-based medicine. This approach is dependent on well-designed, controlled studies. Thus far, nobody has tackled a flossing study with the academic rigor we now expect. Why? We can only speculate. Studies like this are expensive and there is no fame or monetary reward to be found in proving out flossing. Flossing is cheap, easy to adopt and no-risk. This leaves us with anecdotes and weak evidence. Two of our leading dental associations — the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Periodontology — cited other studies as proof, but most of these studies used outdated methods or had relatively small sample size. 

Despite our agreement regarding poor studies and evidence around flossing, this does NOT mean it has been proven ineffective either. Each of your teeth have six surfaces and brushing can only clean four of them. You simply need a method for cleaning in between your teeth to properly remove all plaque causing substances that are proven to cause decay.  

We always hoped more people would talk about flossing - but not like this! At the very least, we hope this exposure will inspire researchers to conduct better studies and counteract these claims made by the AP. Oh, and by the way - even the author of the article admits he still flosses. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us directly or leave a comment. We'd love to hear from you. 

For Further Reading

This 2006 study titled, “Dental Flossing and Interproximal Caries: a System Review,” recruited 808 children age 4-13 and split them into three test segments: kids who were professionally flossed 5 days/week; kids who were professionally flossed once every 3 months; and kids who reported self-flossing at home. The research lasts 18 months and unsurprisingly, the participants who were professionally flossed 5 days/week saw a 40% decrease in the risk of cavities. 

October is National Dental Hygiene Month

This October marks the sixth straight year that the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) is presenting National Dental Hygiene Month (NDHM), with the Association and the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program (WOHP) working collaboratively to increase public awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral health.

This year's focus is on the four components of good oral care maintenance: brushing teeth twice a day, flossing every single day, rinsing with antimicrobial mouthrinse and chewing sugar-free gum (optional). We'd like to take this opportunity to remind our wonderful patients to "do the daily 4". During your next visit with Pam, let's start a conversation about how to integrate good oral health habits into your own daily routine. This practices will not only lead to a healthy mouth, but also contribute to improved overall health. 

“Each and every day, dental hygienists educate patients of all ages and walks of life on the value and importance of good oral health habits. The Daily 4 regimen is a great habit to implement, and talking to patients about brushing, flossing, rinsing and chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production in between brushings is a great way to open a conversation before discussing patient-specific oral care needs,” said ADHA President Jill Rethman, RDH, BA. “The Daily 4 is simple and effective and can help patients have a bright smile, fresh breath and healthy gums. The ADHA is grateful to the Wrigley Oral Healthcare Program for their commitment to help dental hygienists have this conversation with patients — a conversation that can have a huge impact on their oral and overall health. ”

If you want to check out some of the festivities going on this month, use the hashtag #NDHM2015 online to find pictures and stories.