Consistent and proper brushing and flossing are the foundation to having good oral health. While your bi-annual appointments to AZ Dental involve cleaning and caring for your teeth, it is brushing and flossing at home that help you maintain the smile you want. When you are at our office, Drs. Hashemi, Lee, McDonald, Sheth, and our team will show you the proper techniques to brush and floss your teeth and ensure that you receive the greatest benefits. If you have questions about how to properly brush and floss in Sunnyvale, California, please schedule your appointment with our knowledgeable dentists by calling us at 408-738-1000.
How to Brush Your Teeth
Brushing your teeth should be part of your daily routine. At our practice, we recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. However, you may also benefit from brushing between meals, up to several times a day. To help you get maximum benefits from your brushing, just follow these simple guidelines:
- Use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Use no more than a pea-size amount of toothpaste.
- Angle your toothbrush to 45 degrees while brushing, pointing towards your gums.
- Brush in a circular motion.
- Brush every side of your tooth, including the top, back, and chewing surfaces.
- Don’t leave out the tongue!
- Brush for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.
How to Floss Your Teeth
Flossing is an essential part of maintaining your oral health. While brushing can help keep your teeth clean, there are some places where your toothbrush bristles cannot reach. This is where flossing comes in. By flossing daily, you can remove plaque from between your teeth and round the gum line. This helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Flossing is simple and takes only a few minutes. Just follow these steps to make sure you get the most benefits out of your flossing:
- Use about 18 inches of floss, about the distance from your fingertips to your elbow.
- Wrap the floss around each of your middle fingers, leaving 1 to 2 inches in between.
- Use your thumb and forefinger to hold the floss tight.
- Gently slide the floss between your teeth, pulling it around each side and moving it up and down.
- Floss all the way up the side of the tooth and even a little into the gum line.
- Unwind the floss from around your fingers and use a new strip of floss for each tooth.
