Keeping your mouth healthy and clean by brushing and flossing at least twice a day, eating a well-balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly is an important part of good oral hygiene.
Plaque is a bacteria that grows and creates a film on the surface of your teeth. It is colorless until it grows into tartar making your teeth yellow or brown. When it builds up it can lead to other dental problems such as tooth decay, gingivitis, periodontitis or gum disease and other complications. So, remember to eat a well-balanced diet, exercise good oral hygiene daily, and visit your dentist regularly.
How to Brush:
- Hold the toothbrush at 45º angle to the gums
- Gently move the brush back and forth in short strokes the size of your tooth
- Brush all the surfaces of all the teeth (inner, outer, and chewing surfaces)
- Hold the brush vertically to clean the inside of the front teeth by making several up anddown strokes
- Be sure to clean your brush after every use this is also part of good oral hygiene
How to Floss:
- Break off between 18 and 22 inches of floss and wind most if it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the other middle finger.
- Hold the floss between your thumb and forefingers.
- Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Do not snap the floss into the gums!
- When the floss is safely between your teeth gently slide the floss along the tooth in the space between the tooth and the gums.
- Use a gentle up and down motion to remove debris from your tooth. Use this technique on all of your teeth.
- When your floss becomes dirty unravel new floss from the finger is was wound on and wrap the dirty floss on the other finger.
- When you are done throw away your floss
Tip: good oral hygiene could save you from pain and discomfort down the road.
