Brushing
The Right Angle
The bristles of the brush need to reach into the space between your teeth and gums. To do this, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle against your teeth.
Gently, Gently
The biggest mistake is scrubbing too hard, which can wear away your gums. Use a very short back-and-forth motion or a small circular motion. Don’t move the brush more than half a tooth length. Do the outsides and the insides top and bottom.
The Front Teeth
To reach behind the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically and use the bristle toward the end of the brush.
Chewing Surfaces
It’s important to clean the crevices in the chewing surfaces of your teeth where food can get stuck. Use a gentle back and forth motion.
Flossing
- Keep your fingers close to your teeth for better control.
- Work the floss back and forth slightly to east it between your teeth so it doesn’t snap in and injure your gums.
- Make a “C” shape around the tooth.
- Move the floss gently up and down the side of the tooth, making sure to clean between the tooth and the gum.
- Do both sides of every tooth, advancing to a clean section of floss for each side.
