Oral hygiene instruction
Optimal oral hygiene is very important for all treatment outcomes and will be emphasized through-out all treatment phases. Oral hygiene together with professional cleanings can prevent most periodontal disease developments and reverse early stages of the disease (gingivitis).
- Follow the individualized home care instructions provided to you by your dental professional.
- Use a soft-bristle brush and a fluoride toothpaste or an electric toothbrush. Replace your brush about every three months.
- Brush 2-3 times a day. On outer and inner surfaces, brush at a 45-degree angle in short, circular strokes against the gum-line. On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth. On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up and down strokes.
- Floss 1 time a day between teeth, behind the last tooth, around implants and below the gum-line. Let the floss slide gently. Do not cut your gum.
- Additional aids such as interdental brush, toothpick, floss holder, floss threader, tongue-scraper, oral irrigator or mouth-wash may be useful.
- Try to avoid using the tooth that is sensitive to cold, warm or chewing.
- If you often break af filling, grind your teeth or bite your teeth hard together you should consider using af mouth guard to relieve the teeth.
Toothbrushing:
- Plaque is the tiny filmy white coating that accumulates daily on the teeth and causes decay
- Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day to remove plaque
- To help eliminate bad breath, brush top surface of tongue
- Watch these videos to get an idea of how your tecnique should be: Tandlægeskolen, Colgate tandbørstning and Colgate tandtråd
Treatment at home:
If you have an acute problem and can not come to the dentist you can use these homemade aids:
- Use hot salt water if you do not have chlorhexidine to reduce bacteria and to relieve irritated gum.
- A fluid with 50% water and 50% hydrogen peroxide (lowest concentration) kan reduce plaque. This can not be used permanently because it increases the risks of side effects.
- A lukewarm peppermint teabag can relieve wounds around the mouth
- A cold compress on the cheech can relieve soreness and swelling
- A warm compress on the jaw joint can relieve soreness in the jaw.
- Acute pain in a tooth can be relieved with painkilles
Call us as soon as you can if you need our help, so we can have a look in the clinic.
Flossing:
- Flossing removes plaque between your teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach
- Floss one a day
- Do not snap floss between teeth
- Flossing can be tricky to learn for some people; if you have problems, ask your dentist, or hygienist
Oral hygiene products
The following items are meant as information and guide to you as to what products are available. (Price info as per May 2008).
Dr. Hoffmeyer has no finacial interest in the following companies:
Tooth Brush
Use an atraumatic soft / ultrasoft, small head with round ended bristles.Change brush appr. every 3 months:
- Colgate 360 Soft with tongue cleaner
- Colgate 360 Sensitive Extra Soft with tongue cleaner
- Colgate 360 Sensitive Ultra Soft with tongue cleaner
- Colgate Sensitive Ultra Soft
- Curaprox Soft CS1560
- Curaprox Super Soft CS3960
- Curaprox Ultra Soft CS5460 (Approx.DKr 25,25)
- Ekulf Advanced Soft: Large grip on handle, large head
- GUM MicroTip Compact Soft 471: Large handle.
- GUM Compact Soft 491: Large handle. Green tip bristles.
- GUM Compact Sensitive 495
- GUM Delicate 317: Super soft
- Oral B Sensitive Extra Soft Compact 35 large head
- Sensodyne (GSK) Sensitive Soft
- TePe Soft: Large and small head
- TePe X-Soft: Large and small head
Tooth brush Following surgery or radiation therapy
- Curaprox CS-Surgical: Mega-soft (www.curaprox.com)
- TePe Special Care: Mega-soft (www.tepe.se)
- TePe Gentle Care: Mega-soft
Tooth brush End-Tuft
- GUM 308 (www.sunstarbutler.com): Large handle. Tapered brush.
- Oral-B Interspace: Normal handle. Tapered brush.
- Tandex Solo Soft: Normal handle. Tapered brush.
Tooth brush Battery or electrical
- Braun – Electrical. Rotating.
- Colgate Motion – 2 AAA Batteries
- SoniCare – Electrical. Sonic technology
Tooth paste
All toothpastes with Sodium Fluoride (SF), Stannous Fluoride or Aminfluorid helps prevent cavities.
Potassium Nitrate (PN) helps sensitive teeth. Triclosan helps prevent gingivitis. Debate at present time of long-term sideeffects.Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) gives a foaming effect. Side effect can be mucosal reaction / allergy. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) helps whiten teeth by removing surface stains.
- Arm & Hammer Advance White for Sensitive Teeth with Baking Soda (Church & Dwight): SF 0.24%, PN 5%. No Triclosan. No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. With Baking Soda.
- Aquafresh Extreme Clean Whitening (GlaxoSmithKline): SF 0.15%. (No other info)
- Colgate Fluoride Active: Aminfluorid 1400 ppmF. No Lauryl Sulfate.
- Colgate Karies Kontrol: SF 1450 ppmF. Contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Colgate Total: U.S.A.: SF 0.24% (0.14% w/v F ion). E.U.: SF 0.32% / 1450 ppmF, Triclosan 0.3%. Contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. (ADA accepted).
- Colgate Sensitive Multiprotection: SF 1500 ppmF. PN 5.5%. Contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Colgate for Children: SF 1000 ppmF. Contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
- Crest Sensitivity (Procter & Gamble( (www.crest.com): SF 0.24%, PN 5%
- Crest Multicare Whitening: SF 0.16%. Baking Soda. (ADA accepted)
- Crest Whitening Expressions Herbal Mint: SF 0.24% (0.15% w/v F ion). Contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
- Crest Pro Health: Stannous Fluoride 0.45% (0.16% w/v F). Stannous Fluoride may produce surface staining of teeth
- Sensodyne Fluoride (GlaxoSmithKline): SF 1350 ppmF. PN ?%. Contains SLS.
- Sensodyne Gentle whitening: SF 1350 ppmF. No SLS.
- Sensodyne Fresh Sensitive: SF 1400 ppmF. Contains SLS.
- Sensodyne Gel: SF 1450 ppmF. No SLS.
- Sensodyne Vital: SF 1450 ppmF. No SLS.
- Sensodyne Maximum Strength with Fluoride: SF 0.15 %, PN 5%. Use max. 4 weeks.
- Sensodyne Maximum Strength with Fluoride Extra Whitening: SF 0.15%, PN 5%.
- Zendium “Acid defence”: SF 1450 ppmF, No SLS. Helps preventing acid damage on teeth.
- Zendium “Saliva gel with Fluoride”: SF. Helps dry mouth by giving moisture to mucosa.
- Zendium for Children: SF 1000 ppmF. No LS.
Mouth wash reducing gingivitis, plaque and therefore also bad breath
Use as supplement to brush and interproximal cleaning, not instead of these. Do not swallow. Do not use for children. Read instructions on bottle:
- Crest Pro-Health (Procter & Gamble):Alcohol free (www.crest.com)
- Listerine Fluoride (Green), 500 ml (McNeil):
Contains e.g. Mentol, eukalyptol, alcohol. Works for 12 hours. (Appr. DKr 57,95) - Sensodyne (GSK): For sensitive teeth. Alcohol free.
- Zendium:Contains enzymes and fluoride. Enzymes are a natural part of saliva and help fight bacteria that produce plaque, acid, cavities and bad breath. Fluoride protects against cavities.
Mouth wash reducing bad breath
Bad breath is caused by Volatile Sulfur Compounds in the mouth:
- SB12 250ml (www.sb12.se):
12 hour effect. Contains alcohol. Neutralizes bacteria and the process causing bad breath. 250 ml - Halita Mouth Rinse xxml and Halita Spray, 15ml (www.neodenta.dk):
Contains chlorhexidine (can cause discoloration and taste alteration), Cetylpyridinium, Zinc lactate, Xylitol, no alcohol. - BreathRx Mouth Rinse 474ml, BreathRx Tongue Spray 59ml, BreathRx Breath Spray 5ml,
- BreathRx Sugar-Free Breath Mints 18g (www.discusdental.com):
Works “for hours”. Alcohol-free. Zytex (TM) Neutralizes Volatile Sulfur Compounds. Kills odor-causing bacteria and bacteria associated with plaque and gingivitis
Mouth wash reducing dry mouth
- Oasis (Sensodyne, GSK): Moisturizes your mouth, locks-in moisture, helps protect from dryness.
Floss for teeth
- Colgate tape: Flat, wide, smooth floss
- Crest Glide floss picks, 20 pieces (Appr. DKr 62,25)
- Crest Glide Tape: Flat, wide, smooth floss
- GUM Expanding (Sunstar-Butler): Thin, expanding floss
- Jordan Easy slide: Flat, wide, smooth floss
- Oral-B Satin floss: Flat, wide, smooth floss
- Oral-B Superfloss, 50 pieces (Appr. DKr 33,95)
- Oral-B Humming Bird – Battery powered: Flosser and toothpick
Floss for bridge, implants, braces, large spaces and other hard-to-reach areas
These floss have a build-in plastic threader and a spongy filament floss/brush and normal thin floss:
- Ekulf Bridge & Implant interdental cleaners or Ekulf 3-in-1 Floss (superfloss and thin floss).
- Oral-B Superfloss
- Thornton Bridge & Implant interdental cleaners or Thornton 3-in-1 Floss
Floss holder
- GUM FlossMate (Sunstar-Butler)
Toothpick
Wooden or plastic toothpicks must be triagular in shape (same as the space between the teeth)
- Tandex
- GUM
- Oral-B Humming Bird – Battery powered: Flosser and toothpick
- Water Flosser – Battery powered – 10.000 strokes per minute
Where can I buy a waterflosser? Matas: Genopladelig vandspuler fra Ekulf.
Elgiganten: Oral-B AquaCare mundskyller.
Softpick
- GUM Soft-Picks (Sunstar-Butler): Soft plastic interproximal brush/toothpick
Interdental brush
Choose the appropriate size. The brush must clean the tooth, but the wire should not rub the toothsurface. The brush is used by brushing back and forth between the teeth, not rotating.
Size – Wire dia.: 0.35mm, 0.4mm, 0.45mm, 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9 mm, 1.00, 1.1mm, 1.2mm
Size – Brush dia.: 2.4mm to 8.0mm
- Curaprox CPS 150: Soft. 5 sizes: 0.6 to 1.1mm. Changable refill brushes. Straight with holder/cover cap.
- Curaprox: Soft. 5 sizes: 0.6 to 1.1 mm. Changable refill brushes. Longer handle. Angular 90 degrees.
- Ekulf (NeoDenta): For normal usage. 6 sizes: 0.4 to 0.9mm. Straight with holder/cover cap.
- Ekulf (neoDenta): For normal usage. 5 sizes: 0.4 to 0.8mm. Angular 45-90 degrees. Holder/cover cap.
- Flexi (Tandex): For normal usage. 9 sizes: 0.35 to 1.20mm. Straight with holder/cover cap.
- GUM 627 or 645 (SunstarButler): Snap-on. Refill. Mono or Dual End Handle. Only 0.5 and 0.7mm.
- Interprox Angled Plus (Dentaid): Longer handle. Angular 90 degrees. 0.5mm and 0.8mm (and others).
- TePe (Sharp Colors): For normal usage. 7 sizes: 0.4 to 1.1 mm. Straight with holder/cover cap.
- TePe (Sharp Colors): For normal usage. 7 sizes: 0.4 to 1.1 mm. Long toothbrush-like handle + refills. Angular 90 degrees
- TePe Extra Soft (Pastel Colors): Ideal after surgery. 5 sizes: 0.5 to 1.1mm. Straight with holder/cover cap.
Tongue Cleaner
- BreathRx
- Curaprox CTC 203
- Halita
Oral Pain Reliever for canker and mouth sore, Denture irritation, braces etc.
- Colgate Orabase Soothe-N-Seal Gel
- GUM (SunstarButler) Rincinol Soothing Oral Bandage Gel : Effect up to 6 hours. Alcohol-free.
- GUM (SunstarButler) Aloclair Gel
- MultiOral (Farmisan / Bioclin) Gel
- Oxyfresh Dental Gel (www.oxyfresh.com)
Mouth wash/gel/spray after surgery (1 week or longer – ask Dr. Hoffmeyer)
Use only Chlorhexidine mouthwash, spray or gel according to doctors recommendation.
Do not use products with alcohol.
Chlothexidine with anti discoloration system
Chlorhexidine Oral-Spray, Oral-Rinse, Gingival-Gel and Gel-Toothpaste with Anti Discoloration System:
Reduces remarkably Chlorhexidine’s side effect of discoloration and change in taste perception.
Alcohol free (No burning or irritation sensation).
Avoid smoking, coffee, the, red wine for at least 1 hour after using this mouthwash.
Avoid combining with toothpaste with Sodium Lauryl sulphate
Recommended for denture wearers, orthodontic braces, implants, periodontal desease and before/after dental surgery. Use twice daily.
- Curasept ADS 050 Oral-Spray, 30ml: Chlorhexidine 0.5%
For anti-bacterial topical effect up to 1 week or as prescribed by doctor - Curasept ADS 205 Oral-Rinse, 200ml: Chlorhexidine 0.05% + Flouride 0.05% (Approx. DKr. 68)
For anti-bacterial effect (high risk of periodontitis and cavities) up to 6 months. - Curasept ADS 212 Oral-Rinse, 200ml: Chlorhexidine 0.12% (Approx. DKr 68).
For anti-bacterial effect before and after surgery and during intensive treatment up to 1 month. - Curasept ADS 220 Oral-Rinse, 200ml, Chlorhexidine 0.20% (Approx. DKr 68).
For anti-bacterial effect before and after surgery and during intensive treatment up to 2 weeks. - Curasept ADS 350 Gingival-Gel 30ml: Chlorhexidine 0.5%.
For anti-bacterial topical effect 1-2 weeks or as prescribed by doctor - Curasept ADS 705 Gel-Toothpaste with Fluoride, 75ml: Chlorhexidine 0.05%.
For anti-bacterial effect (high risk of periodontitis and cavities) daily or as prescribed by doctor. - Curasept ADS 712 Gel-Toothpaste Long term treatment, 75ml: Chlorhexidine 0.12%.
For anti-bacterial effect up to 2 months or as prescribed by doctor.
Chlorhexidine without anti discoloration system
- Corsodyl Mouth Spray 0.2% CHX, 60 ml (GSK) Approx.DKr ?
- Corsodyl Gel 1% CHX, 50 g. Approx.DKr.30
- Oral-B Mouth wash, Chlorhexidine 0.12%, 300ml.
Natural Products
Tom’s of Maine (www.tomsofmaine.com): Floss, Toothpaste, Mouthwash: All-Natural, Alcohol-Free
The Natural Dentist (www.thenaturaldentist.com): All-Natural, Alcohol-Free, Sugar-Free