3 min read Health

Best Oral Health Routine Learnt from a Dentist in Tokyo

Best Oral Health Routine Learnt from a Dentist in Tokyo
Photo by Superkitina / Unsplash

I went for a scaling of my teeth last week.

I heavily rely on Google ratings when I visit somewhere in Japan, whether they are clinics, restaurants, cafes, etc. Of course, how one finds a place would differ based on their own experiences. But as a foreigner, Google ratings is a helpful indicator that saves unnecessary time & costs as it is highly likely you would experience a satisfactory service at a place with a high rating.

So, as I searched for a good dentist, I found this place had a good rating with genuine recommendations from visitors. I decided to check the place out and it turns out the dentist was extremely informative and friendly. She thoroughly checked my teeth one by one and then scaling, followed by polishing. Some purple liquid was then applied to my teeth all over to check how thoroughly I am brushing my teeth. The dentist explained not only the benefit of flossing but what happens if we do not floss, the correct flossing technique and how to use interdental flossing. She also mentioned how using mouthwash is a great addition to daily dental routine, as the majority of our mouth is in fact the mucosal layer.

I was impressed by how she was extremely caring about her customers, wanting them to have the best dental and oral health possible.

I was surprised at how we should be rinsing our mouth only once with a little bit of water after brushing. This is for the fluoride in the toothpaste to remain on the teeth. Also, we should try to avoid drinking/eating 2 hours after brushing.
I have been flossing in the incorrect way because I did not know "why" we floss. The whole reason for flossing is to remove the plague in between the teeth that is difficult to be removed by brushing alone. We should wrap the floss around the middle fingers & slide between the teeth. To remove the plague, we should not simply move the floss up and down. We should rather move up and down while curving around the teeth. 
I have bonded wire retainer behind my lower front teeth. So calculus (tartar) can build around the wire. Plaque, bacteria, and tartar buildup can cause damage to the teeth and gums so if you also have a wire retainer, it is recommended that you use interdental brush as we cannot slide the string floss in between the teeth with the retainer fixed at their back side.

For anyone looking for a good dentist near Shinjuku, below is the Google map link to the dentist I went to. It is right outside Hatsudai Station, and about 20 min walk from the Shinjuku Station.

https://goo.gl/maps/HQuBH7WqxmwiDRnRA

Cindy Eunyoung Ryu

Cindy Eunyoung Ryu