Self-Care Strategies

Athorough assessment and evaluation of each client’s current oral hygiene self-care practices, parafunctional behaviors, and dietary habits is necessary prior to recommending the strategies to follow. The client’s demonstration of his or her brushing and flossing technique also provides invaluable assessment information, as the simple alteration of these alone can positively impact the treatment and prevention of hypersensitive teeth (Figure 10). Sensitivity that is not responsive to self-care strategies should be reevaluated for professional management.