Home Care

Our primary goal at Cedar House Family Dentistry is to help you achieve a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Your personal home care is crucial in reaching that goal. It begins with maintaining a balanced diet, limiting snacking, and effectively using dental aids to manage plaque and bacteria that contribute to dental disease.

Tooth Brushing: Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day, especially before bedtime, using an ADA-approved soft-bristle toothbrush and toothpaste.

1. Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.
2. Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
3. Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
4. Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

Electric toothbrushes are also highly recommended. They are user-friendly and can effectively remove plaque.

Flossing: Flossing daily is the most effective method for cleaning between your teeth and beneath the gumline. It not only helps clean these areas but also disrupts plaque buildup, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.

1. Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
2. Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
3. Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.

Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.