Dr. Lawton and Dr. Manchester want you to be as successful as possible when taking care of your teeth. With this instructional guide, you will learn how to prevent tooth decay, periodontal disease, staining, and bad breath, just by properly brushing and flossing your teeth.
How to Properly Brush Your Teeth
Brushing your teeth once in the morning and once at night will help to remove food debris and built-up plaque. Maintaining a healthy habit of brushing daily will help to remove debris that is harmful to your oral health and keep you on track to a better smile.
When you brush your teeth, remember these steps:
- Keep your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums
- Gently clean the chewing and biting surfaces of your teeth
- Don’t forget to brush your tongue and the insides of your cheeks
When you are done brushing, it is important to rinse your mouth with water to remove any debris you may have missed while brushing.
How to Properly Floss Your Teeth
Flossing is an important part of your daily routine and helps to remove the debris your toothbrush could not reach. You should make it a habit to floss at least once a day, preferably right before you go to bed. This way, plaque does not have the opportunity to turn to calculus during the night.
When you floss, remember these suggestions and steps:
- Experiment with different types of floss to find the right one for you
- Start with 18 inches of floss
- Gently curve the floss around each tooth to ensure you get all spaces between your teeth
- Guide the floss back and forth flossing below, and then away from the gumline.
Be gentle and take your time. Proper flossing helps to prevent future oral health problems from appearing and keeps your smile looking beautiful.
To learn more about brushing and flossing, please call Northwest Center for Prosthodontics at 360-459-4400 or click on request appointment by clicking the button at the top of the page. Our dentists look forward to educating you more about brushing and flossing!