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Elwy Dental Care’s Ultimate Guide to Optimal Oral Health

April 9, 2025

At Elwy Dental Care, we believe that Comprehensive Dental Care isn’t just a phrase we use, it is a pathway that guides you towards Optimal Oral Health and a promise of a healthier, happier you. In this guide we will dive into the cornerstones of a radiant smile and how to maintain your oral health and safety. We will learn more about proper brushing techniques and what type of toothbrush suits you, importance of regular check-ups and how to prevent common oral diseases all together while also maintaining an aesthetic and healthy smile.

The Basics of Proper Brushing:

Our first rule of thumb is to focus on brushing front, back and bite surfaces in a gentle circular motion and always make sure to avoid being overly aggressive while brushing. We recommend the minimum time of brushing to be at least 2 minutes twice or 3 times a day. Other parts that sometimes get left out in the cleaning process are the surface of the tongue and the roof of the mouth, which are essential for the overall oral cavity health. When you are done brushing, be sure to spit out all toothpaste and wash your mouth thoroughly with water.

Which is the perfect toothbrush for me?

Before recommending the suitable toothbrush for you, at Elwy Dental Care we advise that your toothbrush or electric toothbrush’s rotating head needs be replaced every 3-5 months to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Types of brushes and who should use them:

Manual Toothbrushes: The most common option available due to its affordability and accessibility. It requires you to move the brush while applying pressure yourself

Electric Toothbrushes: A more advanced option as it runs on batteries and the moving head does not need the user’s interference, however it still is equally effective as the manual option at removing plaque.

Types of bristles?

Soft: The most recommended option as these bristles are both effective and don not cause any damages to your gums.Be careful that even if these bristles do not harm your gums we still recoomend to still applying gentle pressure when brushing.

Medium: This option is preferred by individuals who want an abrasive brush but do not want the disadvantages that comes with hard bristles.Be careful to not scrub too hard as it may hurt your gum health.

Hard: These bristles are more abrasive which means they are excellent at scrubbing away stains. They are recommended for individuals whose diets involve food that easily stains teeth like coffee and cigarettes.

Be Careful that these brushes should not be used on a daily basis but in instances in which you start noticing stains.

Importance of regular dental check-ups

Even though regular brushing and flossing are vital in your journey to optimal oral health, they are still not enough to guarentee without regular check-ups. Routine dental appointments allow dentists to detect early indications of tooth decay, gum disease and any other oral health concern. This process involves a comprehensive examination of your mouth to help detect early signs of any dental issues. Problems such as gum disease , tooth decay and oral cancer might not display any evident signs until they have considerably advanced, so in order to eliminate any risk we advise a check-up every 6 months to monitor your health. Our dentists also will gladly aid in the removal of plaque and tartar accumulation through our advanced cleaning services.

Common Oral Diseases and The Key to Preventing them

1.  Tooth Decay: happens when bacteria causes plaque on you teeth.
Prevention: Regular brushing and flossing + Check-ups to remove Plaque + Eliminate or lower tobacco use.

2.  Gum Disease: tissue infection caused by plaque build-up.
Prevention:  Regular brushing and flossing + Check-ups to remove Plaque + Eliminate or lower tobacco use.

3.  Halistosis/Bad Breath: Bacteria production in the tongue and throat.
Prevention:  Regular brushing and flossing + Eliminate or lower tobacco use + limit food such as onions and garlic + tongue cleaning.

4.  Dentin Hypersensitivity: intense pain that occurs when dentin is exposed as a result of enemal and cementum wearing away.
Prevention: Regular brushing and flossing + Check-ups to remove Plaque + Avoid acidic foods.

5.  Toothache: occurs when the Dental Pulp becomes inflamed.
Prevention: Regular brushing and flossing + Regular Check-ups + Limit Sugary foods and drinks.