Meet Dr. Kylene Fernandez
Dr. Fernandez attended the Ohio State University earning a B.S. Degree with a double major in Dental Hygiene and Psychology. Upon acceptance into the OSU College of Dentistry, she chose to utilize her dental hygiene degree for a year. She then graduated in 1991 from the OSU College of Dentistry, receiving a Special Certificate for her work in the area of pediatric dentistry. She earned her M.S. degree in Pediatric Dentistry from the Ohio State University/Columbus Children’s Hospital residency program in 1993. After graduation she earned the honor of becoming a Diplomate in Pediatric Dentistry.
Dr. Fernandez has had extensive training in orthodontics and has been providing braces to her patients for more than a decade. As of April 2017 she has successfully completed the third tier of three to earn the status of Diplomate in Orthodontics. She now is a Diplomate in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Orthodontic Society.
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BRUSHING
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing surface of all of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque:
- In the morning after breakfast
- After lunch or right after school
- After dinner
- At bedtime
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to carefully floss and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene.
FLOSSING
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque. Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to reach below the gum line and clean between teeth. It is very important to floss between your teeth every day.
Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are squeaky clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.