Care of your teeth and gums includes brushing and flossing. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for
two minutes and flossed at least once a day. Dentures and retainers must also be kept clean by brushing
and soaking them.
A clean mouth adds to your well being and costs less then dental care. Taking care of your teeth helps
prevent tooth loss, chewing is easier food is better digested. It also makes speaking easier and adds to
the way you look and feel about yourself.
Plaque
Plaque is a sticky clear film on your teeth. If plaque is not removed, it hardens into a rough deposit
called tartar. The germs in plaque are the major cause of tooth decay and gum diseases.
Toothbrushes
Use a soft bristle brush. Hard and medium brushes can harm the gums and cause the gums to recede.
Buy a new toothbrush when the bristles are bent and frayed, usually about every three to four months.
A worn out brush will not clean the teeth well.
Tooth brushing
- Use the brush at a 45-degree angle where your teeth and gums meet. Gently move the brush back and forth using short strokes and light pressure. Do not scrub.
- Brush the outsides of all teeth and the inside of the back teeth
- Clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth by holding the toothbrush straight up and down, using the tip of the brush.
- Brush the chewing surface of the teeth and the top surface of your tongue
Flossing
Flossing cleans plaque from between the teeth. Flossing may be hard at first, but practice does make
perfect and soon flossing will be easy!
- Start with a piece of floss about 18 inches long
- Lightly wind most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand; wind the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand
- Grasp a length of about one inch between your thumb and index finger of each hand
- Gently move the floss back and forth working it between your teeth. Never snap the floss into place.
- Curve the floss into a tight C-shape against the side of one tooth
- Slide the floss up and down on each of the side of the tooth. Do the side of one tooth and then the side of the neighboring tooth.
- When the floss becomes worn or soiled, unwind one turn of the floss from one middle finger and take up the used floss by winding it onto the middle finger of the other hand
Professional care
Regular tooth cleaning by a dental hygienist or dentist is important to remove plaque that may build up
even with careful brushing and flossing. If you have questions about brushing and flossing, call your
Dental Clinic.