Once you learn how to brush and floss your teeth properly, you are on your way to having a clean and shiny, white smile. However, if you’re not brushing and flossing correctly, you’re not getting the most out of your daily oral hygiene routine. As a matter of fact, regular and thorough brushing and flossing are essential for preventing tooth decay and gum disease. In detail, brushing flossing removes bacteria that promote tooth decay and plaque that can cause gum disease. Ideally, you should brush and floss after every meal because bacteria attack teeth just minutes after eating. However, this isn’t attainable for most, but you should brush and floss your teeth at least two times a day. Brushing your teeth isn’t complicated, but there is a right and a wrong way. So use this quick guide to learn how to brush and floss your teeth.
Here is a guide to brushing your teeth properly:
- Brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. Guide the bristles to where the gums and teeth meet. Using a gentle, circular, massaging motion, guide the brush over the outside surfaces of your teeth. Do not scrub; gums that recede are often a result of years of brushing too hard.
- Clean the surface of every tooth. The chewing surface, the cheek side, and the tongue side all need to be given attention.
- Do not rush your brushing routine. Brushing should take between 2 and 3 minutes.
- Change up your usual brushing pattern from time to time. By brushing the same way every time, you may be missing the same spots. Keep track of what you have and haven’t touched by splitting your teeth into quadrants.
- Use a soft brush with rounded bristles. The right toothbrush cleans better, so choose the right size and shape that allows you to reach the back of your mouth. Ask your dentist to help you choose the right brush!
Flossing removes plaque and bacteria stuck between your teeth and gums that a toothbrush can’t reach. You miss more than one-third of your tooth surface if you do not floss. In addition, plaque is the leading cause of gum disease. Just as important to remember is that plaque hardens into tartar within 24-36 hours. Consequently, you will need professional cleaning to remove tartar. You can learn more about how to control tartar buildup from our blog.
Here is a guide to flossing correctly:
- Take a length of floss equal to the distance from your hand to your shoulder and wrap it around your index and middle fingers, leaving approximately 2 inches between your hands.
- Guide the floss between your teeth and contort it into a “c” shape around the tooth’s base and under the gum line. Then, wipe the tooth from the bottom to the tip a few times.
- Floss both sides of every tooth. Please choose a new section of floss as it wears down and begins to pick up particles.
- Brush your teeth after you floss
Dental health is directly associated with confidence, self-esteem, and happiness. So take care of your teeth and protect your smile! Let us know if you need to schedule a dental appointment with Encore Dental Clinic in Port Coquitlam.
