Cape Town Smile Studios

STEPS TO HEALTHY TEETH AND GUMS NATURALLY 

With only a few extra minutes per day, you can achieve a microbe-free mouth.  The following is a list of oral cleaning procedures.  The more steps you can incorporate into your routine, the cleaner your mouth will be. Don’t believe misleading television advertisements that suggest using mouthwash alone is enough to combat periodontal infection.  

Quick Start

1.      Brush with a manual toothbrush although we prefer an electric toothbrush, and toothpaste

2.    Use  Floss as directed by your dentist or oral hygienist.

3.      Use a tongue scraper.

4.      Irrigate with an Oral Irrigator.

5.      Rinse with your dental recommended Mouthwash that must be alcohol-free.

6.      Soak all toothbrushes in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.  

Detailed Instructions 

1.     Brushing with a manual toothbrush.  

Using toothpaste on your toothbrush is an excellent tool for removing food, plaque and germs. The toothbrush’s shortcoming is its large size, which makes it difficult to clean the spaces between and around the teeth. Research shows that most people brush for only 30-40 seconds. This is adequate only if you are following up with an electric toothbrush. If you are not using an electric toothbrush, an effective manual cleaning requires about 3-5 minutes. Tip: ALWAYS use a soft toothbrush. Note: Only a pea size amount of toothpaste is required. 

2.   Brushing with an electric toothbrush.  

An electric toothbrush is highly recommended because it does not damage gum tissue by being too aggressive, and it effectively cleans without unnecessary vibrations, which overtime may loosen dental restorations. It is best used with a small amount of toothpaste for superior whitening and a dramatic difference in the way your mouth feels. The electric toothbrush has a small pointed rotary action brush that easily enters those trouble areas that are not readily reached with the manual toothbrush. Concentrate your attention at the gum line around each tooth. With little effort, most of the sticky plaque and bio film will be removed. This step takes 2-3 minutes. 

3.  Floss. 

Gently slip the floss through each contact.  Pulling the floss below the surface is not recommended. Flossing takes less than 1 minute.  Do not damage delicate gum tissue with overly vigorous flossing; be gentle. There are electric flossers and floss holders for those who find the procedure difficult. If flossing isn’t possible, more regular visits to your hygienist are suggested. 

4.  Use a Tongue Scraper.  

The coating on the back of the tongue harbours many microbes; by scraping off this coating, the microbes' protective shield is removed. 2-3 scrapes is enough. Note: The coating at the back of the tongue is where most of bad breath originates. Brushing the tongue removes only a small amount of the coating. 

5. Use an Oral Irrigator with the correct solutions. 

The tip on the irrigator needs to have a very small opening, allowing for a tiny, pulsing stream of water diluted with solution. This is the single most important step for achieving healthy teeth and gums naturally. An oral irrigator is a miniature showerhead that delivers cleansing solution below the gum-line. Irrigating reaches into places that a brush and floss can not go and is  At this stage of the cleaning program, all surfaces of the teeth have been scrubbed and it’s time to rinse. The irrigator will eliminate the microbes that the previous steps have disrupted and will find the microbes that are lurking in the crevices between the teeth and gums. Only the irrigator can penetrate these hard to reach areas. The irrigator is best used with PerioScript®, which contains Bio-Saponins, a natural soap, and 22 other active ingredients. PerioScript® dissolves the remaining biofilm, discourages the microbes from returning and encourages healthy gums. 

Note: The oral irrigator is not an oral pressure cleaner! Start off with the unit on medium pressure. As your tissue tone improves, you may gradually increase the pressure. Slowly direct the flow around the teeth at the gum line. 10-12 oz. of solution in the reservoir allows you to go around the mouth 2 times. This procedure takes less than 2 minutes. 

6.  Rinse with your recommended mouthwash. 

The recommended mouthwashes will do wonders for your oral health program. There is no alcohol to dehydrate delicate tissue. The essential oils and herbs coat your entire mouth with a solution that discourages the growth of microbes and nurtures the healing process. PerioClear® is full-strength; do not dilute. Rinse for 30-60 seconds with 1-3 capfuls. 

7.  Soak all toothbrushes in 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. 

Hydrogen peroxide is a good, inexpensive and safe way to kill germs on a toothbrush. Soaking a toothbrush for a couple of minutes in a small shot glass, just enough to cover the brush works great. Hydrogen peroxide must be changed daily.