With proper care, your teeth and gums can stay healthy
throughout your life. The healthier your teeth and gums are, the
less risk you have for tooth decay and gum disease.
How can I care for my teeth and gums?
There are four
basic steps to caring for teeth and gums:
- Brushing
- Flossing
- Eating right
- Visiting the dentist
Tips for brushing
Brush at least twice a day. If you can, brush after every meal.
Brushing removes plaque, a film of bacteria that clings to teeth.
When bacteria in plaque come into contact with food, they produce
acids. These acids lead to cavities. To brush:
1. Place a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste on the
head of the toothbrush. (Use a soft toothbrush.)
2. Place the toothbrush against the teeth at a 45-degree
angle to the gum line.
3. Move the brush across the teeth using a small circular
motion. Continue with this motion cleaning one tooth at a time.
Keep the tips of the bristles against the gum line. Avoid pressing
so hard that the bristles lie flat against the teeth. (Only the
tips of the toothbrush clean the teeth.) Let the bristles reach
into spaces between teeth.
4. Brush across the top of the chewing surfaces of the
teeth. Make sure the bristles get into the groves and crevices. Be
sure to clean the back teeth.
5. Use the same small circular motion to clean the
backside of the upper and lower teeth -the side that faces
the tongue.
6. To clean the inside of the bottom front teeth, angle
the head in an up-and-down position toward the bottom inside of the
mouth and move the toothbrush in a small circle.
7. For the inside of the top front teeth, angle the brush
in an up-and-down position with the tip of the head pointing toward
the roof of the mouth. Move the toothbrush in a small circle.
8. Give your tongue a few gentle brush strokes, brushing
from the back of your tongue forward. Do not scrub. This helps
remove bacteria and freshens your breath.
9. After brushing your teeth for two to three minutes,
rinse your mouth with water.
10. Replace your toothbrush with a new one every three to
four months.
Tips for flossing
Floss once a day. Flossing gets rid of food and
plaque between the teeth, where your toothbrush cannot reach. If
plaque stays between teeth, it can harden into tartar, which must
be removed by a dentist. To floss: