How To Properly Brush and Floss Your Teeth
Everybody knows that brushing your teeth should be preformed at least twice a day.
But are you doing it correctly?
Brushing your teeth often becomes a mindless routine – but that routine is extremely important when it comes to your oral health. Here is a quick 5-step refresher on how you should be brushing and flossing your teeth. Remember, your teeth should be brushed at a minimum of two times a day for two minutes per session.
The Five Steps To Properly Brush Your Teeth:
- Start by holding your tooth brush at a 45 degree angle to your gum. A soft bristled tooth brush is the best choice.
- Start by brushing the outside of your teeth, focusing on the top teeth first. Brush them from the gum line outward.
- Next, brush the inside of your teeth, brushing the top teeth first. Continue to brush from the gum line outward.
- When the outer and inner areas have been brushed, clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Use short back and forth brush strokes.
- Finally, brush your tongue. This step will help remove any small particles while combating bad breath.
The Five Steps To Properly Floss Your Teeth:
- Start by breaking off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around a finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the used floss.
- Next, hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth, using a gentle back and forth motion.
- When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gun and the tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
- Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. As you move from tooth to tooth, unwind the clean floss with one finger and take up the used floss with the finger on the opposite hand. Do not forget the back side of the last tooth.
Keep in mind that your toothbrush is an important tool in this process. In addition to using a soft bristled brush, be sure to replace your toothbrush every 2-3 months. It’s also important to replace it after an illness to help prevent reinfection.
Want more information on how to properly brush your teeth?
Watch the great tutorial video below from Crest Toothpaste:
