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Oral Hygiene

Why is it so important to have proper Oral Hygiene?

Gum disease makes adults 35 years or older lose more teeth than cavities do. Three adults out of four have this problem during their lives at some point. The ideal method for preventing dental issues such as cavities, gum disease, and other oral problems is through practicing proper daily oral hygiene such as flossing and brushing.

Mark S. Frey, DDS - Santa Rosa cosmetic dentist

Bacterial plaque is the cause for cavities / gum disease, and other oral health issues. The colorless film of plaque accumulates on your teeth next to your gums. This forms on the teeth during the day and night. You can remove this easily just by flossing and brushing at least twice a day. This prevents the buildup of germs that could lead to gum disease.

Proper Brushing Technique

child brushing teeth

Call the office immediately at (707) 800-3556 if you experience pain during brushing your teeth or have any questions. Dr. Frey also advises you to use only a soft of ultrasoft bristle toothbrush when brushing your teeth. Hold the brush on your teeth on each side of your mouth where they meet the gums at a 45-degree angle. Brush gently using a circular motion with small, light strokes on the outside surface of each tooth. Apply gentle pressure when placing the brush in between your teeth, as too much pressure could cause pain or gum recession. Repeat this motion on the back of the teeth once you finish the outside surfaces of them with the same directions to clean those areas gently.

Hold the brush vertically, though, when brushing the lower and upper front teeth. Make numerous strokes in a back-and-forth direction gently over each one of the front teeth. You need to make sure to remember also to brush gently the gum tissue surrounding the teeth.

You clean the bite-surface area of the teeth after you finish the other parts of the teeth using gentle, short strokes. Move the brush to different angles as needed to clean and reach all the areas of the teeth. Look in the mirror while brushing to make sure you clean all the surfaces of each tooth. When you finish brushing, rinse thoroughly with water to rinse away any loose plaque.

The Correct Way to Floss Your Teeth

cleaning the teeth

Gum disease typically occurs in the spaces between your teeth that the toothbrush has a hard time reaching. Flossing enables you to remove the plaque from these spaces effectively. However, you must do it in the right manner. Follow the instructions below, and remember you will need some practice and time to get them right.

Take a piece of floss that is about 18 inches in length. Wrap one end of this floss around your right middle finger and the other end of the floss around your left middle finger.

Tightly grasp the floss with your forefinger and thumb on each hand to floss your upper teeth. Insert your floss gently tight against your teeth and use a sawing motion to remove the plaque and food debris. Be careful not to snap or force the floss into place. Guide the floss down to the gums and gently curve it around each tooth in the process. Slide the floss up just enough to feel a slight resistance. Shift the floss vertically back and forth on the side of each tooth. Make sure to get both sides of every tooth. Finish all the upper teeth first before going on to the lower teeth. Remember to be gentle so you do not cut into the gums. Refresh the floss, as it becomes soiled by doing another wrap around your fingers. Repeat the above directions for your bottom teeth just down to the gums instead of up to the gums. Also, remember to do the back of both upper and lower back teeth.

Remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water to make sure all the food and loosened plaque is rinsed down the drain. Do not worry if your gums become sore or bleed during the first week of flossing regularly, as this is normal. When your gums hurt during flossing, you may be pressing too hard into the gums. Your gums will heal as you work into a regular routine of flossing and the bleeding should quit.

Taking Care of Sensitive Teeth

Teeth are at times sensitive to both cold and hot after a dental hygiene treatment. This will not last that long if you keep your mouth clean. However, with improper hygiene the mouth could even become more sensitive to cold and hot items. Consult with a dentist when oral sensitivity becomes problematic for you. He might advise you to use a medicinal mouth rinse or toothpaste made to help sensitive teeth be less sensitive.

Selecting Products for Oral Hygiene

It is confusing to try to select from the numerous products for taking care of your teeth and mouth on the market today. Check out some suggestions below for selecting products for dental care that work effectively for many people to help clear some of the confusion.

Electronic, vibrating toothbrushes are effective and safe for most people to use. Some of these toothbrushes will contain a rubber tip on their handles to use for massaging the gums after the when the users are finished brushing their teeth. There are those that also contain tiny brushes for reaching in between the teeth. Be careful using these, though, as you do not want to injure your gums. Two brands of the high-tech toothbrushes that are highly effective are Sonicare and Oral-B.

Oral irrigators shoot water into the mouth and around the teeth to rinse them thoroughly, but this device does not loosen plaque. You have to floss, brush, and use the irrigator for the best results.

In addition to using high-tech products, there are toothpastes and mouth rinses that contain fluoride. These are highly effective when used in conjunction with flossing and brushing as they reduce tooth decay by up to 40%. Make a note, though, that most mouthwashes are not recommended for kids younger than six years old. Tartar control toothpastes have the ability to lower the accumulation of tartar on the teeth, but remember that gum disease happens below the gum line. This means these toothpastes do not yet help lower the risk of gum disease.

The American Dental Association approves anti-plaques rinses that contain ingredients that could aid in bringing the early stages of gum disease under control. These still have to be used in conjunction with flossing and brushing.

Professional Dental Cleaning

Flossing and brushing daily minimizes the amount of dental tartar build-up. It takes a profession cleaning to remove the dental tartar that flossing and brushing leave behind. You dental visit is a crucial step in preventing gum disease. Only you can take the proper oral hygiene measures to make sure you teeth stay with for the rest of your life.

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Jeff L.
Jeff L.
1674757839
Excellent dentist, very professional and friendly team! Thank you!
Nicholas L.
Nicholas L.
1673576417
Great experience and friendly staff highly recommend for dental care.
Bonnie B.
Bonnie B.
1668642846
I've been going to Dr. Frey for over 18 years. My dental care has been excellent.
Jann A.
Jann A.
1650562411
Dr. Frey has been my dentist for years. He replaced eight of my front upper teeth with beautiful crowns! He is a committed professional that will honestly advise you on procedures you need, or more unusual, the procedures you don't or can delay. His staff is knowledgeable and friendly!
Dahye J.
Dahye J.
1632331162
Fran S.
Fran S.
1632183008
Warm reception from entry door through the whole office. Polite, pofessionals. Have been taken care of my dental care for a lot of years. Highly recommend them.
Clay S.
Clay S.
1631762152
Pleasant, courteous, efficient Dentist and other staff.
Larry U.
Larry U.
1629237599
makes going to dentist fun
Laura O.
Laura O.
1628821890
PAUL B.
PAUL B.
1620264013
My first dentures officially started today with castings. I anticipated it being uncomfortable and it was but this process was painless. Next stop the model.
Bette Rice V.
Bette Rice V.
1604355267
I’ve been a patient of Dr. Mark Frey for many, many years and have had lots of basic dentistry as well as restorative and cosmetic dental work completed. He has walked me through each procedure, included me in the planning and provided painless treatment to give me teeth that make me proud to smile! Years ago when I was looking for a dentist (mine had retired) a good friend , who was a very committed periodontal hygienist, recommended him. I have never been disappointed. He stays current regarding the most current and effective dental treatment plans. His entire staff is amazing.....Angel, office manager; Bonnie, his right hand assistant; Aimee, his fabulous hygienist. I have total faith in this dental practice and would feel confident recommending them to anyone!
Lynn C.
Lynn C.
1601938730
I felt very safe going back to see Dr. Frey at long last. And I really needed the visit as I knew I needed more than a cleaning appointment! They are wearing so much PPE that I am surprised that they can work efficiently, and there was air flowing through the room as well, and lots of hand sanitizer everywhere. And of course, they are very nice and friendly people and Dr. Frey is a great dentist!
Nancy N.
Nancy N.
1600987204
I feel so comfortable because they are so caring and professional.
Cameron T.
Cameron T.
1597078018
Amazing, love the place and the people.
Vince G.
Vince G.
1594329584
Dr Frey does fantastic work and never tries to sell you services you don't need. 100% on the level. The hygienists are fantastic as well. I have some super sensitive spots on my teeth and a low threshold for pain and, despite that, Corrine always gets me through the cleaning with no stress. Angel at the front desk demonstrates great attention to detail in keeping your procedures on track and your billing straight. Even though I visited today, during the time of coronavirus, I felt safe due to their safety procedures.
Chelsey D.
Chelsey D.
1593297583
Lindsey H.
Lindsey H.
1545094146
I love this office. Dr. Frey is by far the best dentist I have ever seen. He is so gental, competent, and he makes you feel at ease. The office staff are all very friendly and wonderful, too! I have received great care from them. My temporary crown fell off and they squeezed me in and fixed it the very next day! I drive for three hours just to come to this office. I highly recommend them if you are looking for a great dentist.
K O.
K O.
1543103926
I wrote below review 4 years ago. Last night my front tooth/crown fell out... 20 minutes after leaving a message on Dr Frey's emergency message line, he called me back and made an appt to fix my tooth at 10am today - Saturday - even tho office was closed & staff were enjoying their Thanksgiving weekend. Amazingly speedy service! Thank you once again for being an awesome, caring dentist!_________Awesome dentist & team. It's a comfort to have the assurance of quality, professional, state of the art dental care. I am always given careful, patient service and I can count on attention to detail. On top of this, it's a pleasure to see everyone here for routine visits. Thank you!
Jill M.
Jill M.
1542405946
My daughter and I just had our first visits and we could not be happier. Everything was explained, the entire office was kind and there was no “upselling”. We were referred by a friend and I’ll be referring people too. Thank you!
Megan F.
Megan F.
1541698249
5 stars! Great Dentist! My son used to have anxiety but today he was calm and relaxed! We are very happy!
Evan G.
Evan G.
1541538510
Probably THE most together dental office I have ever visited. Quick, thorough, professional, friendly, really put me at ease. Their work is TOP notch. Two Thumbs up +.
Susie M.
Susie M.
1535137799
I am serial tooth-grinder, and did a lot of damage. Dr. Frey and his amazing team reconstructed my smile. They have my highest recommendation.
HEIDI B
HEIDI B
1526360006
This is a very relaxing atmosphere with excellent dental care. The staff is caring, knowledgeable and fun.
Jenna K.
Jenna K.
1522210213
Dr Frey and his staff were compassionate and understanding about my dental history, very informative and explained my treatment plan perfectly. I’m excited to be a patient.
Penelope H.
Penelope H.
1520558163
Radrodro V.
Radrodro V.
1509671346
Very friendly staff and thank you Dr Frey for taking time to talk and explain things to me.
Kerri G.
Kerri G.
1498018479
Always friendly and caring staff.
rhona K.
rhona K.
1489643633
Its a place you always look forward for your next visit. Its that GOOD.
Eric B.
Eric B.
1489019803
As good as it can be!
Hunter P.
Hunter P.
1484849994
Donna R.
Donna R.
1478740126
Dr. Frey, Bonnie and Angel were all wonderful! He is gentle and very competent. Definitely knows what he's doing!
Josephine B.
Josephine B.
1478645189
Competent, caring, cheerful.
Norm C.
Norm C.
1469662456
As usual, the doc is the best and so is the staff.However, maybe it's just me but I found it difficult to get to the "Review" portion.
Melba M.
Melba M.
1465334435
I am hoping you make 5 star tooth repair as i do not know where to get any quality dental work here in sonoma calif.If you can e-mail me before 5 pm today it is tuesday my home number is 869-8095 my name is Melba an emergency
Elizabeth du P.
Elizabeth du P.
1434499295
My 3- and 4-year-old boys just had their first visit and seemed to enjoy it!! (The prizes at the end were a big deal!) Thank you!!
Mary B.
Mary B.
1413248114
I've had some terrible experiences at dental offices but I have yet to endure a bad one at Dr. Frey's. He recently fit me into a busy day when I had an emergency and as usual, showed me much compassion and gave me suggestions if the fix didn't work. So far so good. I'm always happy with the professional and pleasant staff, especially Angel and Aimee. I've recommended several people to Dr. Frey and will continue to do so as long as he has a practice.
Vaughn S.
Vaughn S.
1377257884
Dr. Frey, Angel, Betty and the Whole Staff are great!!
Sophie F.
Sophie F.
1374127759
Hillary R.
Hillary R.
1373601656
Anet D.
Anet D.
1351874139
Thank you, Dr. Frey, for seeing me right away when I broke a crown that was 20 years old and had been put in by a dentist in another city. I really appreciate that you worked through your lunch time to fix it. I value your skill and the way you take care of your patients. Thank you so much.
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