Unbiased oral health information

Prevention

Practice good oral hygiene

Dental disease is caused by bacteria that live in plaque, the filmy substance that fills the nooks and crannies of your mouth after meals. It cannot be emphasized more strongly—if you want to avoid tooth decay ("dental caries", or "cavities") and gum disease ("gingivitis" and "periodontitis"), you need to remove plaque from your teeth and gums. The most effective way to do this is to:
Learn more: Diagnoses › Caries
Learn more: Diagnoses › Gingivitis
Learn more: Diagnoses › Periodontitis

Brush your teeth

Brushing your teeth after every meal if possible, or at a minimum, two times per day. Studies have shown that use of mechanical toothbrushes is superior to manual toothbrushing at removal of plaque. If you do use a manual brush, try and brush for at least two minutes whenever you brush.

View animation Brushing the Gumline and Contact Areas

Dental animation: Brushing gumline and contact areas

Dental Animation: Brushing the gumline (sulcular brushing) is important to prevent gumline cavities and periodontal disease.

View animation Brushing Problem Areas

Dental animation: Brushing problem areas

Dental Animation: Cleaning your teeth effectively means getting to know your mouth's tricky spots, where food and bacterial plaque get trapped. Common problem areas are discussed, including crowded/overlapped teeth; the gingival sulcus (gumline); interproximal areas (between teeth); deep pits and fissures (especially upper back teeth); and around dental restorations. Non-dental reasons for maintaining a healthy mouth are given, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and peripheral vascular health. Caries and periodontal disease are also discussed.

View animation Use of an Interdental Brush

Dental animation: Use of an interdental brush

Dental Animation: If you have fixed bridgework, braces or other dental work which connects adjacent teeth, cleaning under and around it with an interdental brush can prevent tooth decay and gum disease. While their use may seem intuitive, many people are unaware that plaque accumulates under bridge connectors, around orthodontic brackets, etc. This animation describes use of an interdental brush to avoid recurrent caries around fixed bridge retainer margins, and the resulting failure of expensive dental work.

Floss your teeth

Floss your teeth at least one time per day. It really is the only good way to remove plaque from between your teeth, where toothbrush bristles do not go.

View animation Flossing

Dental animation: Flossing

Dental Animation: Neither brushing your teeth, nor rinsing with mouthwash removes bacteria-rich "biofilm" from between your teeth. The only effective way to clean between your teeth is to floss properly every day. Proper floss technique is discussed, including proper adaptation of floss to the teeth, use of an up and down motion extending beneath the gumline (sulcus); floss winding technique; and prevention of floss cuts.

Brush your tongue

Brushing your tongue can reduce the total bacteria population in your mouth.

Follow your dentist's recommendations

Use any other materials and methods your dentist may have recommended for your specific dental situation. For example, fixed bridges or braces might be hard to clean under, and thus prone to becoming decayed. Your dentist might recommend the use of an interdental brush, toothpicks, or oral irrigation devices to aid in the removal of plaque for your unique dental situation.