While you brushing your teeth, move the brush in small circles so you clean out any food particles that could be trapped beneath your gum line. You should also hold your toothbrush at an angle and gently and meticulously brush all the surfaces of your teeth and the front and back sides of every tooth. Make sure you brush every side of your teeth, including the chewing surfaces of all of your teeth and molars. It is also important to remember to brush your tongue and the top of your mouth before you finish brushing. You should use a dedicated tongue scraper to clean your tongue. In order to keep food particles from accumulating and creating plaque, you should brush your teeth two to four times per day:
– Once in the morning after eating breakfast
– Once right after lunch, school, or work
– Once after eating dinner
– Once before you go to bed
When your toothbrush becomes worn or frayed, it’s time for you to replace the brush with a newer one. Be sure to keep your brush clean by storing it upright in a container where it can dry out so that it doesn’t grow bacteria and mold. Additionally, you should clean your toothbrush by rinsing it with antibacterial mouthwash or putting it in the dishwasher or boiling water.
You also need to floss your teeth daily to reduce the risk of plaque building up and to maintain your gum health. To floss correctly, you need to wrap the ends of the floss around your middle fingers and guide the floss between the teeth, wrapping around one side of one tooth in a C-shape, all the way to the gum line. Bleeding may occur the first few times you floss, but this should stop after flossing for a few days.
If you would like further instructions on how to brush and floss, please feel free to contact your friendly dentist, Dr. Pam Crumrine and dental team in Beaver, Pennsylvania, today.
