Dental Articles - Edmonton
Your guide to proper brushing and flossing
Posted by Floss & Gloss Dental on Wed, 1 Jan 2020
Despite regular brushing and flossing, many people do it incorrectly, harming their oral health. Proper techniques are crucial for maintaining a healthy smile.
While people brush and floss on a regular basis, many of them end up doing it in the wrong way. Improper brushing and flossing can be quite damaging to your oral health. It can result in tooth decay, unhealthy gums, bad breath, and other dental problems. In this article, we’ll give you tips on how to properly brush and floss to ensure you enjoy a healthy, confident smile always.
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Brushing Basics
Brush at least twice a day and for two minutes each time you brush. Try to tilt the bristles of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle at the gum line and on the front surface of your teeth. Move the brush gently in back and forth strokes. For best results, replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. You can also implement the bass brushing method for effective cleaning.
The Bass Brushing Method
- Try to keep the bristles of your toothbrush stationary
- Move the toothbrush in a back and forth motion to loosen plaque and food particles and remove them
- Continue with the same technique for front-facing and rear-facing surfaces of teeth
- Remember to brush your tongue, palate, and gum tissue also gently
Flossing Fundamentals
The reason behind flossing is to remove plaque, food particles, and bacteria stuck in between your teeth. Flossing offers several positive results like healthier gums, better breath, and cleaner teeth. Moreover, flossing on a regular basis may prevent you from spending dollars on costly dental issues. You need to keep these fundamental things in mind when it comes to flossing:
Be Gentle
Make sure to stretch out at least 18 inches of floss and break it off. Since the soft tissues of your gums are sensitive, do not floss aggressively, else it can damage your gums.
Be Thorough
Hold the floss in between your thumbs and forefingers and clean between each tooth all the way till the gum line. Shape the floss like a “C” around the front and back of the tooth to get the gum line cleaned thoroughly.
Be Consistent
Maintain the habit of flossing at least once a day. This will help you maintain the health of your teeth and gums.
It is really easy once you get used to with the process of brushing and flossing in the right way. Regular brushing and flossing will help you notice a vast difference in your oral health. Apart from this, make it a point to visit a dentist every 6 months. Consult with our dental professionals for dental cleanings and routine checkups.
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