by Linda Catoe

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

"You only have to floss the teeth you want to keep." Maybe you've encountered this plaque, no pun intended, on your dentist's wall while anxiously awaiting your ritual cleaning torture. And it's true, but it's only part of a process of good home care.

Everyone knows you are supposed to brush your teeth every day. And now we all know brushing alone won't cut it, see above truism. Flossing before brushing greatly improves your general dental health, in my experience. Then there's the controversial irrigation step, formerly known in the vernacular, as "water picking."

To irrigate or not to irrigate; the war rages on between dentists and periodontists alike. Ask your own professional, but again, in my experience, a little irrigation goes a long way in keeping your teeth clean and your gums healthy. Opinions differ on the order of the cleaning ritual, but as long as you floss first, you can split the other hairs anyway you like.

When should you clean your teeth? Personally, I go through the entire routine before calling it a night: Floss, irrigate, brush, then just brush and floss in the morning. If you can swing flossing and brushing after lunch, you've got a nice jump on improving your dental health. Leaning towards a tad obsessive, once you get into the habit, you will want your mouth to feel clean all day long.

About those dental visits. Generally people with no family history of gum disease can visit their dentist once a year. Should you develop gum disease, every 3 months, you may be required to alternate between your dentist and your periodontist, after deep cleaning procedures to reverse gum issues. Excellent home cleaning makes all the difference in maintaining healthy gums and teeth. The good news is that diseased gums can become healthier with the required diligence and attention.

Which toothbrush? Hard, soft, medium, electric, what? In my experience, soft or medium toothbrushes have been suggested, as they tend to not wear down your enamel, and go easier on the gums. As far as electric toothbrushes, the vertical, or up and down motion appear to be the movement of choice, as opposed to the brushes that spin in a circular motion, according to hygienists I have asked.

Standard procedure for a general office cleaning consists of removing plaque and tartar from the teeth and below the gum line, in addition to reducing tea, tobacco and coffee stains from your once pearly whites. When your hygienist measures the health of your gums, here's the deal. The lower the number the better, 1 to 2, excellent, 3, good, 4 to 5, you better get on a thorough consistent home cleaning regimen and schedule more frequent office cleanings. 6 and higher, that's different article.

Ten minutes once or twice a day, three times if you can, really makes an impact on your dental and mental health. Invest in your own home dental care. Pay attention to your teeth. You've got a lot to smile about.

Learn more about this author, Linda Catoe.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.