Preventive Oral Health Tips
Oral health education from TePe and Dental-Me
Caries | Periodontal Disease | Toothbrushes | Implant / Ortho | Interspace | Compact Tuft | Interdental Brushes | Proximal™ | Dental Sticks | Dental Tape | Tongue Cleaner
Caries
Dental caries (tooth decay) is caused by bacteria. Bacteria produce acids when carbohydrates are consumed. Each time sugar enters the mouth, whether in the form of food, drink or medicine, the bacteria produces acids which can decay the teeth. If left alone, bacteria form "colonies", also called plaque. Plaque sticks to tooth surfaces that are hard to clean, for example, crowded teeth, fissures and along the gums. If plaque calcifies and hardens, tartar is formed and bacteria thrive much better.
Saliva has a protective effect on teeth. It rinses teeth and contains acid-neutralizing calcium, phosphate and bicarbonate. If you take good care of your teeth the right way and brush twice a day, you can keep your teeth for a lifetime.
User tips:
- Clean your teeth twice a day.
- Cleaning with interdental brushes, dental sticks or dental tape should be included once a day. An interspace brush is useful for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
- Don't eat between meals. Give your teeth a chance to recover after each acid attack. It will take about an hour.
- Add fluoride by using fluoride impregnated interdental cleaning sticks and/or fluoride mouth rinse solution. If used regularly, fluoride will make your teeth harder and stronger and not so easily dissolved by bacterial acids.
- Call your dentist or dental hygienist for advice and instruction.
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Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease (loosening of teeth) is not caused by decayed teeth, and even healthy teeth can be affected. Periodontal disease often starts between teeth where cleaning is more difficult. Bacteria multiply and spread between teeth and gums and damage the root attachments. Periodontal disease is progressive and will eventually begin to loosen teeth if not taken care of properly.
User tips:
- Clean your teeth twice a day.
- Cleaning with interdental brushes, dental sticks or dental tape should be included once a day. An interspace brush would also be useful for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
- Call your dentist or dental hygienist for advice and instruction.
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Toothbrushes
Choose a medium, soft or x-soft toothbrush. If the toothbrush is too hard, damage to the gums can occur. If the toothbrush is worn, it cannot clean effectively.
Therefore, change your toothbrush often, every month, or as soon as it is getting worn. Cleaning your teeth in the same order every day reduces the risk that you will forget some tooth surfaces. A good rule is to start brushing where your problem areas are. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist for advice.
Effective cleaning with your toothbrush:
Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes using toothpaste with fluoride.
Hold the toothbrush at 45° angle against both gum and teeth, clean gently with small circular movements. Repeat the procedure to the inner surface of your teeth.
After brushing take some water in your mouth and swirl the foam between the teeth for 30 seconds. Spit out but do not rinse to make the best use of the fluoride's preventative effect.
Complete your daily dental regimen by using interdental brush, interdental stick or dental floss.
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Implant / Ortho
TePe Implant/Orthodontic brush has a small brush-head for efficient cleaning of implant posts and around fixed orthodontic appliances.
Effective cleaning for implant patients:
- Place the brush at a 45° angle enabling the top of the filaments to meet the area where the gum meets the implant.
- Brush carefully with short movements and light pressure. Clean the area for a short while, than move the brush.
- For easier access of the inside we recommend TePe Interspace, x-soft.
Effective cleaning for patients with orthodontic appliances:
- To clean the area around and under the wires, place the brush enabling the filaments reach below/behind the wire. Brush with short movements for a short while, than move the brush. Do this from above and from below.
- Remember to clean along the gum line. Place the brush at a 45° angle enabling the filaments to meet gum line. Brush carefully with small movements and a light pressure. Clean the area for a short while, than move the brush.
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Compact Tuft
TePe Compact Tuft is dome shaped to clean along the gum line and for children's emerging posterior teeth. It is also suitable for difficult-to-reach areas such as furcations, orthodontics and implant abutments. Look in the mirror to make sure that you handle the brush properly.
Effective cleaning along the gum line:
Hold brush-tip at a 45° angle so that filament tips touch the gum line. Move brush-tip gently back and forth along gum line.
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Effective cleaning of children's emerging posterior teeth:
Hold brush-tip at a 90° towards the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth. Move brush-tip gently with small, circular movements. This will clean the occlusal grooves and help prevent caries.
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Effective cleaning of difficult-to-reach areas:
Look in the mirror assuring you place the brush properly.
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Interdental Brushes
Choose a brush size that will fit your interdental spaces. Very often a consumer must have more than one size. If you are not sure, let your dentist or dental hygienist choose the right size(s) for you. Don't use toothpaste unless advised to do so by a dental professional. Too much toothpaste makes filament less effective. Use the interdental brush once a day. Change brush when it is getting worn.
Effective cleaning with your interdental brush:
- Slide the brush at right angles very gently between your teeth. If it does not glide easily, work it in gently or choose a smaller size.
- Move the brush full length back and forth until the interdental area is clean. If the brush is angled, first at one side and then at the other, it will clean larger surfaces.
- Cleaning between your back teeth will be easier if you curve the wire so that it can be moved in at right angles. Once curved, do not straighten or curve at another angle to avoid damage to the brush.
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Dental Sticks
Wooden sticks
Choose a wooden stick size that will fit your interdental spaces. If necessary, let your dentist or dental hygienist find the right size for you. If you are prone to dental caries, choose a fluoride impregnated dental stick. It is recommended to use dental sticks nightly between all the interdental spaces to help prevent overnight bacteria growth.
Effective cleaning with your wooden sticks:
- Moisten the dental stick in your mouth before using it. This will make it last longer, be more pliable and have a better fluoride effect.
- Move the dental stick, flat side against gum tissue, back and forth in each interdental space.
- Dental sticks will clean larger surfaces if angled.
- If you hold one or more fingers against your chin, you will get more stability and better control.
- If you use fluoride impregnated dental sticks, wait at least half an hour before you eat or drink. The released fluoride will then stay in your mouth and help prevent dental caries.
Plastic sticks
It is recommended to use dental sticks nightly between all the interdental spaces to help prevent overnight bacteria growth.
Effective cleaning with your plastic sticks:
- Place the dental stick with the flat side against gum tissue, move it back and forth in each interdental space.
- Angle it, first at one side and then at the other, to clean larger surfaces.
- If you hold one or more fingers against your chin, you will get more stability and better control.
- For re-use, rinse the plastic interdental stick in water after use.
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Dental Tape
TePe Mini Flosser™
A pre-loaded dental floss holder for easy and comfortable use. The bite plane enables easy and safe access to narrow interdental spaces.
Effective cleaning with your dental tape
- Gently insert between the teeth using a back and forth action. Easier access may be gained by gently applying pressure onto the bite plane with the opposing teeth.
- Once inserted gently move the floss down the tooth surface to reach the gum line. Apply pressure as you sweep the floss head towards the contact point removing plaque and debris. Repeat on the other tooth surface.
- Remove the floss by sliding out using a back and forth action.
Dental Tape
TePe dental tape is for cleaning very tight interdental spaces. Slim and flexible tape glides easily down between your teeth.
Effective cleaning with your dental tape
- Use about 40 cm of dental tape. Wrap the ends around your middle finger on both hands. Pull taut some centimetres between your thumbs and index fingers.
- Slide dental tape gently between your teeth to the gum line with back-and-forth movements.
- Curve the floss around each tooth in a ‘C’ shape gently moving up and down the sides of each tooth, including just under the gumline.
- Remove the dental tape with back-and-forth movements.
Floss Holder
Facilitates dental tape flossing. Friendly grip, sturdy handle. TePe Floss Holder makes flossing easier.
Effective cleaning with your floss holder
- Put the dental tape across the loop ends using the tracks. Pull it taut by winding it round the knob on the handle.
- Using the floss holder, slide dental tape gently between your teeth with back-and-forth movements to the gum line.
- Move the dental tape back and forth between your teeth near the gum line. Be careful not to damage gum tissue.
- Remove the dental tape with back-and-forth movements.
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Tongue Cleaner
TePe Tounge Cleaner helps reduce bad breath and improve oral health by removal of bacteria from the tounge.
Effective cleaning with your tounge cleaner:
Place the tounge cleaner as far back as possible with the raised surfaces towards the tounge and slide forward. One slide is usually enough.
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Caries | Periodontal Disease | Toothbrushes | Implant / Ortho | Interspace | Compact Tuft | Interdental Brushes | Proximal™ | Dental Sticks | Dental Tape | Tongue Cleaner
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