What is my next step for oral hygiene?I've had swollen, tender, bleeding gums for as long as I can remember. My dentist says it's not gingivitis, but that I'm on the verge of having it. Ever since my last dentist appointment (May or June), I've been flossing like crazy. Recently, I bought
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An instructional video on how to brush your teeth with an Oral-B Electric Toothbrush. www.oralb.com
DEAR DOCTOR K: I've been brushing with a manual toothbrush my entire life. But my best friend insists that electric toothbrushes are better. Should I switch?
DEAR READER: What matters most is that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. That's the way you keep plaque from forming. Plaque is a sticky film that attaches to the surface of your teeth. If it isn't removed, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing regularly keeps plaque in check.
Certain bacteria that live in the mouth mix with saliva to cause plaque. In particular, a kind of bacteria called "Streptococcus mutans" -- a distant cousin to the bacteria that cause strep throat -- is the bad guy.
Some of my patients are surprised to learn that bacteria live in their mouths. Boy, do they. There are more bacteria living in your mouth than there are human beings on planet Earth. And that's just your mouth. There are more than 7 billion of them in everyone's mouth -- and trillions of them in the gut below the mouth.