Aftercare
On this page you will find everything about aftercare for gum treatment.
Three months after the surgical procedure, a reassessment takes place with the practitioner. A new measurement of the pocket depths (spaces between the teeth/molars and the gums) takes place. The dental situation is then reviewed, the result of the treatment evaluated and the nature of the follow-up treatment discussed. A very important part of the follow-up treatment is the aftercare treatment. The aftercare treatment is particularly important to prevent the recurrence of the inflammatory process. The frequency of aftercare is determined based on the result achieved. The frequency varies from 3 to 6 monthly.
Firstly, very carefully performed oral hygiene continues to play an essential role. Daily removal of all plaque is strictly necessary to maintain the condition of your healthy gums. In addition, regular professional cleaning of the root surfaces above and below the gums is important to prevent inflammation and further breakdown. During the aftercare appointments, oral hygiene is checked and adjusted if necessary, the degree of inflammation is determined and all surfaces are extensively cleaned and polished. It may be necessary to provide additional directions when using the electric toothbrush and other aids. After you have been in the aftercare phase for a year, there will be another reassessment during which the pocket depths are measured again. The dental situation is then reviewed, the result of the treatment evaluated and the follow-up treatment discussed. For people with a higher susceptibility to gum disease, aftercare remains important for the rest of his/her life.
Toothbrushing
Brushing your teeth twice a day is a good way to keep your mouth healthy. However, there are a lot of things to keep in mind while brushing. And do you opt for a manual toothbrush or rather an electric toothbrush? The dentist and/or dental hygienist can give you tips and concrete brushing instructions so that you keep your mouth healthy and fresh.
The main function of tooth brushing is to remove plaque. By consistently and correctly brushing away plaque, you prevent cavities, inflamed gums and bad breath. The choice between a manual or electric toothbrush is also important for the health of your mouth.
Although you can easily clean your teeth with a manual toothbrush, dentists and dental hygienists often recommend brushing with an electric toothbrush. Research shows that you remove more plaque in the same brushing time with an electric brush. You simply cannot match the speed at which the head of an electric toothbrush moves with a manual toothbrush. It is also better to get into small corners with an electric toothbrush. Some electric toothbrushes have a so-called brush pressure sensor that measures or warns when you push too hard while brushing. Pushing too hard can damage the gums.
Brushing with a toothbrush
• Tilt the toothbrush at an angle of about 45 degrees towards the gums
• Brush the 3 B's: the top, inside and outside of your tooth
• Don't forget the back of your back molars
• Make short back-and-forth movements, without pressing too hard (pressing too hard can damage the gums)
Brushing with an electric toothbrush
Electric toothbrush with a round brush head:
• Place the brush head perpendicular to the tooth
• The brush head makes a rotating movement, so you don't have to move the brush head back and forth yourself
• Brush the 3 B's: the top, inside and outside of your tooth
• Move the brush head in a circular motion around the tooth, holding the brush head first on the back face for 3 sec, then on the side for 3 sec and then on the front face for 3 sec (3x3x3 method). So pay close attention to the middle part between your teeth. You do this on the inside and outside of your teeth
• On the top of your teeth, hold the brush head still for 3 seconds per tooth and move the brush slowly from tooth to tooth
Electric toothbrush with an elongated brush head:
• Place the brush head at a slight angle towards the gums
• The brush head makes an up-and-down movement, so you have to move the toothbrush over the teeth with a small back-and-forth movement
• Brush the 3 B's: the top, inside and outside of your tooth
• Move the brush head from tooth to tooth in this way, keeping the toothbrush still for a while to properly clean the space between the teeth.
Cleaning between the teeth and molars
With only brushing your teeth you will not reach the hard-to-reach places in your mouth, or only with difficulty. This is very important for the removal of dental plaque and bacteria! Additional actions such as brushing, brushing or flossing are a good way to keep your teeth clean.
It is precisely between your teeth and in the small cracks that most plaque and bacteria accumulate. This can lead to unpleasant mouth problems such as cavities, inflamed gums and/or bad breath. By brushing, brushing or flossing between your teeth - also called interdental cleaning - you also keep those difficult places clean. It is recommended to brush, stoke or floss once a day.
Improper use of these aids can cause damage. The dentist and/or dental hygienist can give you tips and show and practice how to use a toothpick, brush or floss correctly and which method is more effective for your teeth. Not all teeth are equally spaced, so it may sometimes be necessary to combine the different methods.
stoke
A toothpick is triangular in shape and can therefore be used in places where there is a little more space between teeth. A good toothpick is made of wood and does not splinter. A cocktail stick is therefore not suitable!
• Moisten the toothpick under the tap or in your mouth so that it softens and forms more flexible between the teeth
• Gently place the tip of the toothpick with your thumb and forefinger between two teeth, with the flat side against the gums.
• When the flat side is well against the gum line, slide the stick further between your teeth and then swipe it back and forth about seven times. The sides of the stoker clean your teeth
• Repeat this where possible for all teeth. When the toothpick breaks, take a new pick.
rage
Interdental brushes are small, round brushes that are very suitable for cleaning between teeth where the space between them is quite large. Brushes are available in different sizes and it is very important that you choose the right size to ensure that the metal core of the brush does not touch your teeth. Interdental brushes are the most effective way to clean between the teeth, provided the correct size and technique is used. A dentist and/or dental hygienist can help you determine the correct size of the brush.
• Hold a brush between your thumb and forefinger. Rest your middle finger on your jaw so you can steer
• Place the brush between the teeth against the gum line, only from the outside of your teeth
• Place the brush straight between the teeth and move it straight and then slightly diagonally back and forth
• Repeat this for all gaps in your teeth, but remember to choose the right size brush
fins
Flossing is best for places where your teeth are close together. Floss is thin enough to fit between them. Because good flossing is difficult, it will generally first be checked whether a stoker or brush fits.
• Take a piece of floss of about 40 cm and wrap the ends around your middle fingers
• Hold the thread taut between your thumb and index finger and push the thread between the back and second-to-back molars
• Move the wire back and forth in an upward motion along the molar as if you were polishing it from the side
• Use with each tooth or pick a clean piece of wire
• Where possible, repeat this for all teeth
Source: NVvP
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