How to care for Teeth by Brushing and Flossing
Generally, teeth vary in shape and size depending on the position in the mouth. As a result, these differences allow the teeth to do many different jobs. Teeth help us chew and digest food. They help us talk, and pronounce different sounds clearly. Finally, teeth help to give our face its natural shape. A healthy smile can be a great asset, and because this is so important, it makes sense to give your teeth the best care possible. A great smile depends on basic dental care, including visiting your dentist twice a year for cleanings. Following a daily, throughout routine will lead you to a healthy smile and oral well-being.
Here are two helpful techniques that will guarantee an impeccable hygiene of your teeth:
Brushing Your Teeth
It’s definitely one of the easiest steps to do to help your teeth keep clean. When brushing your teeth, position the bristles at an angle of 45 degrees near the gum line. Both the gum line and the tooth surface should be in contact with the bristles. Brush the outer surfaces of the teeth using a back-and-forth, up-and-down motion, making sure to be done gently in order to avoid bleeding. To clean the inside surfaces of the teeth and gums place the bristles at a 45-degree angle again and repeat the back-and-forth, up-and-down motion. Lastly, brush the surfaces of your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove bacteria, which might cause bad breath. Try to brush at least twice a day to prevent acid buildup from the breakdown of food by bacteria. However, if your work or activities prevent you from doing this, thoroughly rinse your mouth with water after eating to minimize the amount of food that would serve as substrate for the bacteria.
- Brush at least twice a day
- Replace your toothbrush every 3 or 4 months
- Use a soft bristled or electric brush and fluoride toothpaste
Flossing Your Teeth
Flossing cleans the surfaces between your teeth. This is important because you can’t clean there effectively with your toothbrush. As a result, if you don’t floss, food, plaque, and bacteria build up there. I know, it’s a chore and a lot of times forgetful after brushing if rushing out the door or heading to bed. However, flossing can help you remove food particles and other detrimental substances that brushing regularly cannot. Flossing allows you to reach deep between your teeth where the toothbrush bristles cannot reach or even mouthwash cannot wash away. Flossing is highly recommendable at least once a day.
- Reach places you can’t reach with your toothbrush
- Floss once a day
- Floss before brushing to allow more fluoride from the toothpaste to reach between your teeth
Taking good care of your teeth will help you live a long, healthy, pain-free life. In order to keep your teeth healthy, it is important to develop a good dental care routine early in life and maintain your teeth as you get older. You can do this by practicing good oral hygiene and following these two simple and yet very valuable steps.
