Oral Hygiene

We have all inherited a different set of teeth, some have inherited remakably strong teeth, while others have inherited teeth with dental problems.

A few minutes a day, devoted to thoroughly cleaning your teeth, will give you a lifetime of smiles.

Plaque

Brushing and flosing everyday is the most effective way to remove plaque. Plaque is the sticky, colorless film of bacteria which constanthy forms on your teeth, which, if left undisturbed for 24 hours, forms the hard deposits called tartar, or calculus and is responsible for cavities and gum disease.

How To Brush Properly

To keep your teeth clean and plaque – free, practice the following brushing techniques daily.

• Use a toothbrush with soft rounded-tip bristles.
  Hard bristles may harm your teeth and gums.
  Choose a toothbrush that will allow you to reach each tooth comfortably. Children will need a smaller toothbrush. A worn out toothbrush cannot clean your teeth properly, you should replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months.
• Gently tilt your toothbrush bristles at a 45 degree angle toward the gums,so you can reach the food debris just under the gum line. Massage the gum line in each spot with a gentle circular motion and then sweep the bristles across the tooth surface away from the gum. Clean both the front and inner gum line this way.
• Brush down on your top teeth and up on your bottom teeth.
• Work the bristles into the grooves of the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
• To remove bacteria and freshen your breath, don’t forget to gently brush your tongue.

Remember to brush long enough and thoroughly enough to remove the plaque from your teeth.

Ideally, one should brush after every meal and snack. These days, this is hard to do because of our busy lifestyles. It is important you brush at least twice a day, and the most effective time to brush is before bed.

How to Floss properly

Brushing cleans the surface of your teeth, but you need to floos to get between the teeth where brushing cannot.

The following is the most effective way to floss.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss or, for children, a piece as long as their arm.
• Wrap the floss around one finger of each hand.
• Hold about an inch of floss tightly between your thumb and forefinger.
• Pull the floss between each tooth using a gentle “sawing” motion.
• Curve.