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How to brush and floss your teeth
Brush your teeth 2 times a day, and use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Follow these tips when you brush your teeth.
- Place the brush at a 45-degree angle where the teeth meet the gums.
- Press firmly, and gently rock the brush back and forth using small circular movements.
Don't scrub. Vigorous brushing can make the gums pull away from the teeth and can scratch your tooth enamel.
- Brush all surfaces of the teeth, tongue-side and cheek-side.
Pay special attention to the front teeth and all surfaces of the back teeth.
- Brush chewing surfaces vigorously with short back-and-forth strokes.
- Consider brushing your tongue.
Some people think it makes their mouth feel more fresh, but there is no evidence that it will help with bad breath.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste.
Some fluoride toothpastes also offer tartar control, which may help slow the formation of hard mineral buildup (tartar) on the teeth.
- Use disclosing tablets every now and then to see whether any plaque remains on the teeth.
Disclosing tablets are chewable and will color any plaque left on the teeth after you brush. You can buy them at most drugstores.
Floss at least one time a day. Choose the type and flavor of floss that you like best. When you floss your teeth, use either of these methods.
- The finger-wrap method. Cut off a piece of floss 18 in. (46 cm) to 20 in. (51 cm) long. Wrap one end around your left middle finger and the other end around your right middle finger, until your hands are about 2 in. (5 cm) to 3 in. (8 cm) apart.
- The circle method. Use a piece of floss about 12 in. (30 cm) long. Tie the ends together to form a loop. If the loop is too large, wrap the floss around your fingers to make it smaller.
With either method, follow these steps for flossing.
- Gently work the floss between the teeth toward the gums.
- Curve the floss around each tooth into a U-shape and gently slide it under the gum line.
- Move the floss firmly up and down several times to scrape off the plaque. Popping the floss in and out between the teeth without scraping won't remove much plaque. And it can hurt your gums.
A plastic flossing tool makes flossing easier. Child-size flossing tools are available for parents to use to floss their children's teeth. You can buy them at most drugstores.
If your gums bleed when you floss, the bleeding should stop over time as your gums get healthier and tighter next to your teeth.
Current as of: July 31, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
