The removal of dental plaque through your daily brushing is essential for the success of your treatment and the maintenance of its results. During consultations, we take the time to review together the existing tools and methods to make your brushing time as effective as possible.
Toothbrushing should be done using a soft toothbrush for a minimum of 2 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day, after meals. The brushing motion should be effective without being traumatic: all tooth surfaces should be brushed meticulously, without excessive pressure, using a rolling motion from the gum to the tooth.
Reducing Plastic Consumption
You can use a toothbrush with a bamboo handle. The toothbrush head should remain small-sized, and the bristles should be soft and made of nylon (some types of nylon are recyclable).
Bristles made from animal sources should be avoided as they are porous and not hygienic.
The daily use of interdental brushes is necessary to maintain the health of your dental and periodontal tissues: a toothbrush cannot slide between the teeth and brush the surfaces between each tooth. Without interdental brushes, one-third of your tooth surfaces remain unbrushed, which increases your risk of cavities and/or periodontal disease. We will guide you in the selection of your interdental brushes and the appropriate sizes to use.
The use of dental floss is more difficult and less effective than interdental brushes: it is limited to very tight interdental spaces.
Toothpaste plays a minor role in the treatment of gum diseases: it is the mechanical brushing motion that effectively disrupts the bacteria responsible for gingivitis and periodontitis. However, toothpaste is useful for:
- Preventing tooth decay through topical fluoride application. This prevention is especially important in cases of gum recession, which increases the risk of cavities on exposed roots.
- Reducing tooth sensitivity to cold through the use of desensitizing agents.
About natural, organic and home-made toothpastes
Most of them lack fluoride, which is essential for preventing tooth decay. Homemade toothpaste lacks control over its abrasiveness (potentially damaging tooth enamel) and its microbiological safety.
About Fluoride
Fluoride is an essential ingredient for controlling your risk of tooth decay: fluoride ions strengthen tooth enamel by incorporating into it, making it more resistant to acids produced by cariogenic bacteria.
What about the risks of overdose and the perceived harmfulness of fluoride raised on social media?
Regulations impose a maximum dose of 0.15% fluoride ions in cosmetics. The risks of intoxication are very low and associated with misuse (ingesting large amounts of toothpaste). It's important to take a step back from this controversy because, when used reasonably, fluoride is a valuable ally for the health of your teeth, as supported by years of scientific research on the subject (link).
Daily use of mouthwashes should be avoided for two reasons:
- The antiseptic agents they contain disrupt the natural oral flora necessary for oral health.
- Periodontal diseases result from an imbalance of the oral flora, not from infection by a specific bacterium to eliminate: therefore, daily chemical disinfection is not useful. These mouthwashes may be prescribed for short periods and in specific situations, especially to promote healing after surgery.
Tobacco Use
Smoking patients are at risk for severe and progressive periodontal diseases, as well as for the failure of initiated therapies. Their response to treatment is less favorable, and relapses are more frequent. Tobacco use delays and impairs tissue healing after therapy.
Smoking cessation is a crucial factor for the medium- and long-term success of periodontal therapies and for maintaining teeth affected by periodontitis. Furthermore, quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing oral cancers.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from insulin secretion deficiency and/or abnormal insulin action on target tissues.
Diabetes and periodontal disease are interdependent:
A patient with uncontrolled diabetes has a threefold increased risk of developing periodontitis.
If you have diabetes, treating your periodontal disease contributes to active glycemic control and helps manage your diabetes.
When dental plaque is not properly removed, tartar forms rapidly and captures bacteria even more: deposits accumulate, and the disease progresses.
Scaling aims to remove these hard deposits and restore smooth tooth surfaces conducive to good gum health. The removal of dental stains through polishing concludes the treatment and helps restore a radiant smile.
In the case of periodontitis, one or multiple sessions of root planing are necessary to thoroughly clean and sanitize your periodontium by meticulously removing all tartar deposits, both above and below the gumline. These procedures are gently performed using ultrasonic instruments, sometimes under anesthesia when necessary. They facilitate the healing of the gums and bone, halting the progression of the disease.
Quickly, gum bleeding diminishes, along with symptoms of infection such as bad breath. Gradually, you regain comfort while chewing. The appearance of your gums becomes healthier and more aesthetic.
The bone losses associated with the progression of periodontitis are irreversible.
Sometimes, these bone losses become so severe that they hinder tissue healing despite root planing: surgical intervention becomes necessary. This serves two purposes: firstly, to enhance the sanitization process, and secondly, to correct the bone anatomy and achieve lesion repair through a bone graft.
These surgeries are not routine and are indicated on a case-by-case basis.
Once periodontal recession is present, the gum tissue never spontaneously returns to its original position. Only a gingival graft can partially or fully repair the created lesion.
A gingival graft may be indicated to reinforce the gum tissue in relation to a recession or to attempt coverage of the exposed root when the site's anatomy permits.
In the vast majority of cases, an autograft is used: the grafted tissue is taken from the patient's mouth, often from the palate or the area of the upper wisdom tooth.
Each recession is unique, and the surgical technique varies based on the specific characteristics of the lesion and the desired outcomes. Gingival grafts address the consequences of periodontitis or traumatic brushing, but they do not treat the underlying causes. They are always preceded by non-surgical periodontal treatment.
When dental plaque is not properly removed, tartar forms quickly and provides a greater foothold for bacteria: hard deposits accumulate, and the disease progresses.
Scaling aims to remove these hard deposits and restore tooth surfaces that are smooth and conducive to good gum health. The removal of dental discolorations through polishing completes the procedure, resulting in a brilliant smile.
