Oral Hygiene Maintenance

In Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario

Although helping you achieve a beautiful smile is an important part of our dental services, the dentists at Willow Dental view improving your overall oral health as our primary goal. Failure to maintain optimal levels of oral health can lead to serious conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, jaw joint problems, and tooth loss down the road.

At Willow Dental, we will work closely with you to establish a program of continuing care in order to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. The frequency of these visits will be determined by the condition of your teeth and gums.

At your hygiene maintenance appointment, your dental hygienist will update your medical history, take any necessary x-rays, remove the build-up of tartar above and below the gum line, and polish your teeth. One of our dentists will also examine your mouth at appropriate intervals to make sure you are not experiencing any oral health issues requiring more extensive treatment.

Your At-Home Oral Hygiene Regimen

It is not sufficient to just visit our Mississauga dental office  a few times a year for professional teeth cleanings. In order to ensure that you maintain optimal levels of oral health, you must diligently keep up with your daily oral hygiene regimen in between office visits.

At Willow Dental we recommend the use of an electric toothbrush when brushing at home.  Most electric toothbrushes have the added feature of a built in timer to indicate the appropriate length of time for brushing.  If you prefer the use of a manual toothbrush make sure you use one with soft bristles. It is best to move the manual toothbrush in a circular motion, angling it 45 degrees into the gum line. You should brush for at least two minutes, making sure that you reach all the surfaces of your teeth. In order to keep your teeth healthy, it is best to brush at least twice a day.

You will also need to floss at least once a day to maintain healthy gums. Wrap the dental floss around your middle fingers, holding it between your index finger and thumb. Gently guide the floss between your teeth in an up-and-down motion, making sure to move the floss below the gum line. It is important to floss between all of your teeth. While some of the teeth in the back of your mouth may be hard to reach, you will need to diligently floss between these as well to prevent the development of gum disease in this region. We also recommend the use of a Waterpik especially you are not flossing regularly.

Please contact us today to schedule your initial dental evaluation. Willow Dental serves patients in Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario.