General dentistry
Dental Hygiene in Sarasota
Cosmetic work only lasts as long as the mouth underneath it. Cleanings, gum health, and the home routine that decides how well everything else holds up.
- Brush
- Twice a day, minimum
- Floss
- Every day
- Protects
- Veneers, crowns, fillings
- Comes first
- Before cosmetic work
No dental treatment is any better than the mouth it sits in. Cleanings and gum health are not the interesting part of this practice, but they are the part that decides how long the interesting part lasts.
The routine that matters
Brush at least twice a day, after meals where you can. Floss daily. That is the whole instruction, and almost everyone does one half of it well and the other half badly.
Flossing, properly
Wind the floss around both index fingers so you have real control over it, then work it between every tooth rather than only the tight ones. Move it up, down and sideways against each surface, and take it gently under the gum line. Under the gum is where the plaque you miss turns into the problem you come in about.
Before anything cosmetic
Decay, failing fillings and gum disease get treated before whitening, veneers or crowns go on top. It is not a delay tactic. Whitening comes out blotchy over plaque, and porcelain bonded to an unhealthy mouth is porcelain you will be replacing.
Home care
No treatment outlasts the routine at home
This is the part of dentistry that happens without a dentist in the room, and it decides more than anything done in the chair. Brush and floss regularly, after meals where you can and at least twice a day. Doing it often matters. Doing it properly matters as much.
Dr. Back and her team are amazing! I have never had such a great experience with a dentist or hygienist as I have with Sarasota Smile Design!
Technique
How to floss so it does something
Most people floss in a way that cleans the sides of the teeth and misses the two places that actually cause trouble, the contact point and just under the gum.
- Wind the floss around both index fingers so you have control of it
- Push it between each tooth, every tooth, not only the ones that feel packed
- Move it up, down and sideways against the side of each tooth
- Take it gently under the gum line, which is where what you miss does damage
Thank You Dr Back & Staff for taking such great care of me! It’s been a very long journey & Because of you I now have a Beautiful Smile 😃🦷with new teeth! I will continue to work on getting regular Cleanings for healthier teeth! Thank you so much for all you have done for me & also for Robert as our #1 Dentist ❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sincerely, Lori Woods
Why it comes first
Health before cosmetics
Whitening will not take evenly on a surface that has not been cleaned, and veneers and crowns are only as sound as the gums holding the teeth they sit on. Any cosmetic plan here starts by treating decay and gum disease.
The office staff are friendly and efficient, the wait time is low, the hygienist's are gentle and do a thorough job and Dr. Back is very knowledgeable and professional. In addition, the office is a peaceful place. I highly recommend Sarasota Smile Design!
Answers
Dental Hygiene: questions patients ask
How often should I brush?
At least twice a day, and after meals where that is practical. Frequency is half of it; technique is the other half.
Does flossing really matter if I brush well?
Yes. A brush does not reach between the teeth or under the gum line, and those are the two places where trouble starts.
Will a cleaning whiten my teeth?
It removes surface plaque and debris, which can make teeth look brighter, but it does not change the color of the tooth itself. Whitening does that, and it works better on a cleaned surface.
Do veneers and crowns need different care?
They need the same brushing and flossing as natural teeth, for the same reason. The gum and the tooth underneath still have to stay healthy.
More on dental hygiene
Related care
3800 Clark Rd., Sarasota, FL 34233
Ask about dental hygiene.
Open Monday to Thursday, 8:00a to 4:00p. Call (941) 927-5411. Financing through CareCredit.