Dental Health
Dental Health
Brushing
How to Brush Your Teeth
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy takes only a few moments each day. Once you develop this daily routine, stick with it. Brush twice a day and floss once a day every day to prevent tooth decay and remove plaque from your teeth and gums. According to one study, brushing your teeth first without toothpaste and then again with paste reduces plaque by 67% and gum bleeding by 50%.
Steps to Effective Brushing:
Use a soft-bristled brush that fits your mouth.
Use toothpaste with fluoride.
Place the brush where the gum meets the tooth, with the bristles at a 45-degree angle to your teeth so they get under the gum line.
Move the brush back and forth in slow (tooth-wide) strokes brushing gently.
Brush both the inner and outer surfaces of the teeth and brush the broad chewing surfaces with the entire brush. To clean the inner surfaces of the front teeth, use the tip of the brush using gentle up-and-down strokes. Brush for at least 2 minutes.
Scrub your tongue for about 30 seconds to remove even more bacteria. If you dry brush first, follow the same brushing procedure for about a minute and a half without paste, then brush again for another 2 minutes.
Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly. Change toothbrushes every 3 months or so, when the bristles are bent or frayed, or after a cold or illness.
Appointment not necessary for people in pain.
Call 519-679-Dove (3683).