Are You Brushing and Flossing Properly?

It’s pretty simple: Good oral health starts with brushing and flossing your teeth daily. Most of us are taught that from a very young age.

Brushing your teeth starts early — as soon as your baby teeth come in. Then you need to start flossing as your teeth begin to fit side-by-side. But do you know the best way to do both?

At Crystal Smiles Dental in Livermore, California, Colin Young, DMD, and our team not only teach you the importance of brushing and flossing, but we show you how to do both well. Unfortunately, when you don’t brush and floss correctly, you can develop oral health issues. Here’s what you need to know.

How to brush

Let’s first talk about the kind of toothbrush you need to use.

You might think the harder the bristles, the better for removing bacteria and plaque. While it’s fine to use a hard-bristled toothbrush on occasion to remove stains or to clean your dentures, everyday use can be harmful to your oral health.

This type of toothbrush can actually be too rough on your enamel and cause damage to your gum line. That’s why we recommend a soft-bristled brush.

First, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed. Make sure your toothbrush fits in your mouth and allows you to reach all areas well.

Follow these steps for the proper brushing technique:

Make sure you place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums
Move your toothbrush gently back and forth
Brush the front side and the back side and the chewing surfaces of your teeth
For the inside surfaces, tilt your toothbrush at a vertical angle and brush up and down

You should also replace your toothbrush once your bristles begin to fray, which typically happens after three or four months of use.

How to floss

Flossing requires a special technique, as well. If you have teeth that fit tightly together, make sure you get an easy-glide floss that can get between your teeth and gums.

To floss correctly, follow these five steps:

Take about 18-24 inches of floss and wind the ends around your middle fingers, leaving about a two-inch area to floss with.
Hold the floss taut with your index fingers and thumbs.
Slide the floss down in between two teeth and gently glide in an up-and-down motion, rubbing against each side of your teeth.
When the floss reaches your gums, curve the floss at the bottom of your tooth to form the shape of a half-moon.
Perform this action between each tooth, using a new section of floss.

When you floss, don’t let the floss go into your gums to avoid bruising or scratching them. You should also floss at least once a day.

Additional steps for good oral health

Brushing and flossing properly can definitely keep your oral health strong. However, we also recommend that you have teeth cleanings and checkups about once every six months with our team at Crystal Smiles Dental.

We can ensure that all plaque gets removed and also provide you with tips on how to keep your oral health at its best.

To schedule an appointment to have your teeth professionally cleaned, and to find out more about how to take care of your teeth and gums, reach out to us by calling, texting, or scheduling your visit online today.