Best Brushing and Flossing Techniques

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You brush your teeth religiously every morning and before you go to bed each night. You even floss. But there is a right way and a wrong way to brush and floss your teeth. are you doing it correctly?

Tools You Will Need

• A soft bristled toothbrush. An electric toothbrush is even better. Replace the toothbrush (or brush head for electric brushes) every two to three months.
• Fluoride-containing toothpaste
• Floss. A floss pick or holder can be helpful.

How to Brush

1. Hold the bristles at a 45 degree angle to the gumline.
2. Touch the bristles to your gums. Use just enough pressure to feel them. Do not press firmly or squish them.
3. Brush repeatedly along the gumline and on all surfaces of the teeth, using a circular motion. To reach the inside surfaces of front teeth, hold the toothbrush vertically and swipe with an up and down motion.
4. Brush for a full two minutes, spending at least 30 seconds in each quadrant. Using a timer can help you keep track.

How to Floss

1. Get 18 inches of floss. Wind at least half of it around one of your middle fingers, and the remainder around a middle finger on your other hand.
2. Hold the floss firmly between your thumb and the finger it is wrapped around, with about one inch between your two hands.
3. Guide the floss gently between your teeth until it reaches your gumline.
4. Curve the floss into a C around your tooth, and scrape the side of the tooth as you move away from the gumline.

Brushing and flossing at home is not the whole story. You should also see your dentist every six months for a professional teeth cleaning and oral exam.

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