The Basics Of Dental Care

At the root of every dental care effort are two things that many people do all the time but few really understand the significance of: brushing and flossing. While almost everyone is aware of the importance of both for dental care by now, most people don’t really know how to do them properly. The following tips should help you understand some important aspects of flossing and brushing and will hopefully reduce the number of times that you have to go to a dentist for emergency dental care.

Brushing your teeth

You should ideally use a toothbrush with soft, rounded bristles made of synthetic material. The best toothbrushes you can get will have a seal of approval from the American Dental Association.

Toothbrushes should be replaced every two or three months, or when the bristles become worn. Toothbrushes that are worn wont clean your teeth effectively, and they may even cause damage to your gums. Some experts also recommend changing your toothbrush after a cold.

Make sure that you have the right sized toothbrush. Smaller toothbrushes are generally better than larger ones.

Begin brushing your teeth by placing the bristles at about 45 degrees to your gums, and sliding the tips under the gums.

With a gentle circular motion, brush your teeth and gums, making sure to brush the outsides, the insides, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth. For the chewing surfaces, you will want to brush with a light back and forth movement.

The front teeth should be brushed on both the inside and outside surfaces. You may have to tilt your brush in order to reach behind the teeth.

Don’t forget to brush your tongue, as this is where a lot of the bad breath causing bacteria and food particles reside.

Use only a small amount of toothpaste. A pea-sized amount should be enough in most cases.

Brushing your teeth should be done at least once a day, although after every meal would be best. If you cannot help but miss a morning brushing, try not to miss it at night.

Flossing your teeth

Use about 18 inches of floss and wrap it around the middle fingers of both hands. Holding the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers, guide it gently between your teeth. Avoid snapping the floss against your gums as this can cause cuts.

When you have worked the floss into your gumline, curve it against one tooth while you slide it into the space between the tooth and the gum gently. Clean your teeth with a gentle scraping motion.

Do the same for all your teeth.

After you have cleaned one or two teeth, move to a cleaner segment of the floss.