Preventing Tooth Decay and Gum Disease - Doctor Q&A

Tooth brushing alone isn't the most effective way to keep your teeth clean.

There is still 40% of your tooth surface that cannot be reached by toothbrushing alone.

Dental plaque can build up between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot get to. This is because the toothbrush bristles cannot reach the tight surfaces and narrow spaces in between the teeth.

Gaps occurring between teeth due to gum disease are also areas which the ordinary toothbrush cannot clean thoroughly.

That is why interdental (in-between teeth) cleaning aids – such as dental floss and interdental brushes are important.

Using interdental aids such as flossing and interdental brushes to clean gaps and surfaces in between teeth is one of the most important things you can do to change the health of your smile for the better.

In this ‘Ask the Specialist’ Q&A forum, don't miss the chance to ask Dr Chee Hoe Kit to find out more about cleaning between the teeth by asking questions such as:

• Why is it important to clean in between the teeth?
• How do I know if I should use an interdental cleaning aid?
• What is interdental cleaning and how do I do it properly?
• What happens if I do not floss my teeth?
• When’s the best time to floss?
• Should I brush or floss first?
• Can I rinse and reuse floss?
• How to use interdental brushes?
• How do I choose the correct interdental brush size?
• How do I know if I have poor gums?
• What treatment is there for gum disease?

Or any other question related to preventing tooth decay and gum disease! This Q&A is open for one month only!

Clinical Assistant Professor Chee Hoe Kit is a fully qualified and experienced gum specialist who works full-time in the National Dental Centre of Singapore as a Senior Consultant in the Periodontics Unit, Department of Restorative Dentistry.

He also leads the Dental Clinic at the Diabetes & Metabolism Centre in the Singapore General Hospital, a clinical service that provides periodontal screening and treatment in patients with diabetes.

Apart from gums, Clin Assist Prof Chee also treats patients with dental implants and its related surgical therapies.

He is also an educator with SingHealth Duke-NUS teaching postgraduate students in periodontology and a clinician-scientist doing research on periodontal health and its impact on diabetes mellitus and he has also given several talks on oral health and diabetes to the general public as well as to medical and dental clinicians.

Ref: F26