Dental Hygiene

Dear Friends:

We've all been told about the importance of fighting plaque. Brushing after eating, flossing, and having regular professional cleanings is so important to good health.

But many of us think the flossing part isn't really necessary. It's actually crucial for many reasons: the first is obvious—it removes food particles from between your teeth before decay starts. Flossing also firms gums and that prevents periodontal disease. Periodontal disease causes bone loss and loss of teeth. It also means a lengthy trip to a periodontist for scaling and cleaning of your gums.

The third reason is that bacteria in your mouth can travel through your bloodstream to your heart. In fact, some cardiologists recommend a dental cleaning prior to heart surgery. So please floss! It only takes a couple of minutes and you can do it reading or watching television. It sure beats hours in the dentist's chair (that doesn't come cheap), or worse—tooth loss.

Now, since oral hygiene is a lot trickier for folks with limited use of one or both hands, it's good to know about widely available dental tools and tips.

Tools
	DenTips™, an alternative to using a toothbrush, DenTips are disposable, individually wrapped swabs made with soft, polyester tips treated with peppermint flavored dentifrice (cleaner). Available in packages of 10 or boxes of 250 at Sammons Preston Roylan or Express Medical Supply, Inc.
	ToothTowels™—an easy alternative to brushing, Tooth Towels clean teeth and freshen breath. They are mint flavored towelettes, individually packaged, tote-able, and disposable. Available in boxes of 100 from Sammons Preston Roylan.
	Grip-Mate™ fills the hand for a more positive grip and has an adjustable velcro strap with a "D-ring" for secure adjustment to any hand size. The Gripmate is 2 1/4-inches in diameter by four inches in length and it opens for insertion of a knife, fork, spoon, pencil, comb, toothbrush, etc. Available at Maxi-Aids.
	A self-rotating toothbrush with a horizontal palm handle was designed for individuals with limited hand/forearm movement or gripping ability. The rotating toothbrush has a plastic-covered, 3 1/2" handgrip that easily adjusts to any size hand. Cleans up with soap and water and measures nine inches long, latex-free in assorted colors. Available at Sammons Preston Roylan.
	The Dext Brush™ is designed to prevent over-insertion into the mouth. Its special oblong shape will not allow it to be thrust deep enough into the mouth to injure the throat or palate. Product is latex-free. Its soft, end-rounded, polished bristles remove plaque. Available in adult and pediatric-sizes at Sammons Preston Roylan.
	Tube squeezer is a plastic vertical stand (2 1/4 inches round x 1 3/4 inches high) that holds any size tube of toothpaste two inches wide or less. Squeeze the knob for toothpaste or hand cream-even tubes of shampoo, from Sammons Preston Roylan.
	The Colgate Navigator™ is a manual toothbrush with a contoured, easy-to-grasp handle. It has cushioned gripping dots and padded rubber strips and its flexible jointed head easily follows the contours of the mouth. Available commercially or through your dentist.
	Electric cordless toothbrushes clean more thoroughly than a manual brush because of the brisk, vibrating motion-some even use sonic waves. The best ones are available through your dentist's office. They leave your mouth feeling as clean as when a hygienist does it—clean enough to eat off of! Now battery-operated toothbrushes are sold inexpensively at any drugstore.
	The Braun Oral-B 3D Plaque Remover has high-speed pulsations and ultra-speed oscillations, and three-dimensional brushing action loosens plaque between teeth and below the gum line. Teledyne Waterpik also makes excellent electric toothbrushes and water-picks. Available commercially or through your dentist.
	back to top

Flossing Tools
	FlossBrite—A pretty new gizmo from Bergman Oral Care. A single-handed flossing device with floss, floss advance and tension control right in the easy to use, ergonomically designed handle: http://www.flossbrite.com/Company.html
	Electric flosser—the Sonipick™ from SONEX, uses special tiny toothbrush filaments in three sizes that vibrate sonically at a speed of 18,000 strokes per minute. The sonically charged filaments (in three sizes) slide between teeth, even tight spots, to remove plaque. SoniPick runs on one AA battery, so it's portable! Available at Juvigar Enterprises)
	Oral B Hummingbird™ Power Flosser and Pick—Use with one hand, this electric flosser is portable and runs on batteries. (However, it may be difficult for some users to feel for and locate the tiny activation button needed for each tooth.) The Hummingbird also comes with a soft mint dental pick. http://www.oralb.com/products/flossinterdental/
	Reach® Access™ Daily Flosser (editor's pick!)—Very easy to use with one hand, this battery-operated flosser has snap-on, replaceable heads, and the device will fit into a toothbrush holder right next to your toothbrush or travel any place. http://www.mrreach.com/home.jsp
	back to top

Now everyone can have good oral health!

Best wishes,

Candace Bennett
Infinitec Managing Editor
candace.bennett@sbcglobal.net