13.08.2021
- minute readminutes read
How to motivate your patients to use interdentals
To motivate a patient, several aspects must be considered. It is important to have a sound dental knowledge in order to pass on the right recommendations to patients.
Explain simply how to use interdentals at eye level
However, it is also crucial that this knowledge is conveyed and explained on a patient-friendly way and at eye level. This means that no matter if the conversation takes place in the treatment room or at a separate oral hygiene place, the patient should sit upright and at the same eye level as the prophylactic employee. Comprehensive controls are useful and very important: communication is not a one-way street!
Give your patient the opportunity to report for themselves. Ask him or her, for example, about their current oral care habits, experience with interdentals, etc.
Praise their progress
Do not forget to praise your patients too, because we all know from our own experience that praise is good and motivates. Even if there is not much to praise, it helps to have a positive start to the conversation. Always be aware that you need to make it clear to the patient why good oral hygiene is important. Here the individual approach is very important.
Check their ability to implement oral care routines
Another factor that you need to consider is your patient's ability to implement your instructions. This includes the demonstration of tools and techniques that the patient can implement. You can check this by the patient / the patient tried the just shown on the model or in the mouth itself.
Give them time
Now you have passed on your knowledge, emphasized the importance for the patient, proven his / her ability to implement oral hygiene instructions, and given appropriate tools and instructions. The realization should not be a problem now, is it? The phenomenon is familiar to all of us: we know that we should eat healthily, exercise regularly and sleep well. Do we do that?
It may also be difficult for the patient to change habitual behaviors and implement your recommendations immediately. Give yourself and your patients time. In a conversation, try to address possible difficulties or obstacles in a solution-oriented way.
Related Articles
-
Root Caries: Helping Patients Understand and Manage Helping patients understand what root caries are, and how to prevent them, is increasingly vital for dental pros as the global elderly population grows.
-
Delivering Innovative Oral Care for Your Dental Patients How can dental professionals take advantage of the latest technology, research, and best practices to provide cutting-edge service for their patients?
-
Links Between Periodontal Disease and Systemic Health Issues With a clear grasp on the relationship between periodontal diseases and systemic health issues, dentists will be better prepared to guide their patients.
-
The Importance of Home-based Oral Care in the Prevention of Mucositis We examine the role of patient education in preventative home-based oral care after implant placement.
-
Interdental Oral Hygiene: Navigate the Evidence with Ease Find out how to navigate the increasing amount of literature and benefit from a review of the latest evidence on interdental cleaning devices.
-
Partnering with Patients for Lifelong Periodontal Care New evidence makes it clearer than ever that post-treatment periodontal care won’t be effective unless both practitioner and patient are active participants.
-
How and Why to Use Interdental Brushes and Picks Learn how to use interdental brushes properly and why it is essential to brush every day to prevent gum disease and promote healthier living!
-
Pregnancy Gingivitis Causes and Facts: Keeping Patients Informed During a sensitive time, dental professionals can provide assurance and guidance as patients experience the common condition known as pregnancy gingivitis.
-
Experts Speak on Orthodontic Challenges in Home Dental Care Dental professionals face a range of challenges when it comes to helping patients with at-home care for orthodontic appliances. Here’s what the experts advise.
-
The Relationship Between Periodontal Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease What impact does oral health have on brain health? Research has found the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients.
-
Interdental Cleaning Compliance: Leverage the Evidence on Ease of Use A daily oral hygiene routine is one of the greatest issues in dental care. Discover how to drive interdental cleaning compliance by leveraging ‘ease of use’.
-
Dental Woodsticks vs. Rubber Picks: Advising Patients on Interdental Cleaning A review of research around woodsticks vs. rubber picks as interdental cleaning devices provides important insight for dental professionals.
-
Interdental Cleaning: Know the Evidence to Drive Compliance Discover the latest evidence on the relative efficacy of different interdental cleaning devices and find out which is most likely to drive compliance.
-
Dental Patient Education Tips on Forming Strong Habits How can dental professionals most effectively educate their patients and support the development of strong oral care habits? Find science-based tips within.
-
Experts Speak on Oral Cancer Challenges in Home Dental Care Prof. Carlo Lajolo and Ms. Susan Cotten join Sunstar Global to discuss oral health risks that result from cancer therapies and how to best support patients.
-
Social Media for Dentists There are many advantages to social media for dentists, including patient engagement and reputation enhancement. But there are also pitfalls to avoid.
-
Why Communication Skills Are Essential for Dental Professionals Communication is essential for success as a dentist. More than providing information, it means listening, empathizing and motivating patients.
-
Why More Pros Are Embracing Minimally Invasive Dentistry As focus on holistic dental practices grows, the idea of minimally invasive dentistry is also on the rise. Here’s what it means to embrace this practice.
-
Understanding the Role of Oral Bacteria in Colorectal Cancer Data from research around the role of F. nucleatum in the progression of colorectal cancer is too striking for dental professionals to ignore.
-
Ulcerative Oral Mucosa Lesions: Manifestations and Categories Oral mucosal lesions (aphthous ulcers) are acute, painful, whitish-yellow, fibrinous mucosal defects a with red halo. Here described their classification.
-
The Value of Saving Teeth vs. Dental Implants The value of saving teeth goes beyond dollars and cents. Regeneration paves the way for patient trust and better oral care opportunities.
-
Probiotic Health Maintenance of the Gums Periodontal diseases arise due to a mismatch between existing pathogenic bacteria and desirable beneficial germs.
-
Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis, Probiotic for Maintenance of Healthy Gums Multiple studies confirm that Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis contained in GUM PerioBalance has plaque inhibition, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects.
-
New EFP Guidelines for Stage IV Periodontitis The EFP recently released evidence-based, interdisciplinary guidelines for treating stage IV periodontitis. Here’s what professionals should know.
-
Chlorhexidine, the Gold Standard in Dentistry, Mode of Action Chlorhexidine is one of the main antibacterial ingredients in oral care products as GUM® PAROEX®, its antibacterial activity can last for more than twelve hours.
-
Interdental Cleaning, Extremely Important, but Still Underestimated Interdental cleaning is important. It's proven that rubber interdental cleaners, such as GUM® SOFT-PICKS®, provide optimal cleaning and increased compliance.
