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Keeping Your Smile Healthy After LANAP: A Post-Procedure Brushing Guide
Following your LANAP laser gum therapy procedure, proper brushing is crucial for optimal healing and long-term oral health. Here's a guide to help you maintain a healthy smile after LANAP:
Brushing Techniques:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush: Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush designed for sensitive gums. Harsh bristles can irritate the healing tissues.
- Gently brush the chewing surfaces: Focus on brushing the chewing surfaces of your teeth for the first week after the procedure. Avoid brushing directly on the treated gum areas.
- Gradually incorporate gumline brushing: After one week, you can begin gently brushing along the gum line. Use a rolling motion and avoid harsh scrubbing.
- Use warm water: Warm water is gentler on your gums than cold water.
Brushing Frequency and Duration:
- Brush twice daily: Aim to brush twice a day for two minutes each time. This helps remove plaque and bacteria before they can cause further problems.
- Be gentle: Avoid harsh brushing movements, which can irritate the healing tissues.
- Use fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities.
Additional Tips:
- Rinse with lukewarm salt water: Rinsing with lukewarm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 8 ounces of water) after brushing can help soothe the gums and promote healing.
- Avoid using mouthwash for the first week: Mouthwash can contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the healing tissues. Ask your dentist when you can safely resume using mouthwash.
- Use a Waterpik: After one week, you can use a Waterpik to gently floss between your teeth and remove any plaque or food debris.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol: Smoking and alcohol can slow down healing and irritate the gums. Avoiding these substances will promote faster and more comfortable recovery.
Things to Remember after LANAP:
- Regular dental checkups: Maintain your regular dental checkups and cleanings to ensure optimal oral health after LANAP.
- Seek professional help: If you experience any pain or discomfort after brushing, contact your dentist immediately.
The best brushing routine
The best brushing routine for parent and child is two minutes of gentle brushing in the morning and two in the evening. But if the longest four minutes of your day are spent helping your child brush and floss, here are some suggestions for making that time fly.
Don't let your children get gingivitis
Children’s brushes come in a wonderful variety of colors, patterns, and shapes. Allow your child to choose a favorite the next time you go shopping for dental supplies. Just make sure to choose a soft bristle brush with a head designed for small mouths. And since toothbrushes generally wear out after three months, your child will have plenty of opportunities to pick and choose! You might also explore the many flavors of children’s toothpaste to find the one that your child finds most appealing, and let your young brusher squeeze out a dab on that new brush.
Reward Daily Brushing
You don’t have to go to great lengths to make your son or daughter feel rewarded for a job well done. Allowing children to pick out a story for you to read or posting colorful stickers on a calendar sheet will encourage them to get into the habit of brushing.
Two-Minute Countdown
Time seems to go faster when we’re having fun. Your child might enjoy listening to songs or stories for the two minutes of brushing time. You can make your own playlist, invent a story starring your child, or make use of one of the dental apps that offer children’s music, videos, and stories in perfect two-minute segments.
Do It Together
Spend these two minutes twice a day with your child. You will be doing all the brushing at first, of course, but as your children get older, brush your teeth along with them. You can model proper brushing techniques for cleaning teeth, gums and tongue, and even let your child have a chance to brush your teeth for a change.
Don’t Forget Checkups!
Scheduling checkups and professional cleanings at our Fort Lauderdale, Florida office is vital to maintaining your child’s oral health. And, if your son or daughter is keeping up with good hygiene at home, these visits should be a breeze!
The habits your child develops now will be the foundation for a lifetime of oral health. Make these four minutes a day count. And if you can create ways to make them fun, those four minutes will fly by for both of you!
