Professional dental hygiene is carried out in the dental surgery twice a year and consists of the following operations: dental scaling, airflow, brushing and fluoridation.
Individual dental hygiene is carried out by each person, individually, every day, at least twice a day (morning and evening), with toothbrush and toothpaste, but also with dental hygiene aids: floss, mouthwash, interdental brushes, mouthwash and air floss.
Personal brushing should be supplemented every two years by a dental hygiene session in the dental surgery, which includes:
– dental scaling
– professional brushing
– fluoridation (if the dentist considers it necessary)
– desensitization (if there is dental sensitivity)
– prescription of mouthwashes (if the condition of the oral mucosa so requires)
Proper dental hygiene is a prevention against gingivitis and periodontal disease.
The first step in the treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease is professional dental hygiene.
This consists of cleaning hard supra- and subgingival tartar deposits by scaling, using ultrasonic or hand instruments.
The resulting surfaces after scaling are finished with professional brushing, gums, airflow (jet of sodium bicarbonate and pressurized water).
Auxiliary means for oral hygiene
The dental hygiene action taken by each of us is dental brushing and the use of oral hygiene aids:
Flossing helps to remove hard-to-reach particles between teeth that are the starting point for plaque and tartar. It is the best protection, along with daily brushing, against tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath.
Mouthwash is an antiseptic that prevents tooth decay, gingivitis and bad breath (halitosis or foul breath) by removing plaque.
It does not replace toothbrush or floss. Mouthwashes can be used for both prevention and treatment.
Interdental brushes are used to sanitize the interdental space. Nearly half of all tooth surfaces are the interproximal surfaces, which are difficult to reach during tooth brushing.
By hygienising the interdental space, the risk of developing dental caries, the need for related treatments and the possibility of gingival and bone inflammation around the hygienised teeth is greatly reduced.
In most cases there is contact between adjacent teeth, but a wider space is formed in the cervical area due to retraction or atrophy of the interdental papilla. In such cases it is recommended to clean the area with an interdental brush, mouthwash or air floss.
Determination of the optimal shape and size of the interdental brush, mouthwash or air floss recommendation is made by the dentist, as interdental spaces and dental status, prosthetic work as a whole, vary from patient to patient and can change considerably in the presence of gum disease.
