Brushing & Flossing Advice from Primary Dental Care

At Primary Dental Care in Garden Grove, California, we know that brushing and flossing are two of the most important activities that you can engage in to ensure your dental health. Although these take very little time, brushing and flossing are often not attended to on a daily basis. Taken together, when properly done and when performed each day, these two actions can safeguard the wellbeing of your teeth, gums, and mouth.

Brushing

You should be brushing and flossing after every meal, or, at the very least, twice a day. When brushing, use a quality, soft bristle brush or an electronic toothbrush. Brush at a 45-degree angle, carefully running the instrument over the outside surface of your teeth and gums. Make sure you contact every tooth, even those in the back of your mouth. Use backward and forward motions.

Also, brush the top and inside of each tooth. Brushing your tongue is also recommended as a way to control bad breath. It’s best to use quality toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is effective in controlling tooth decay as it covers the enamel on your teeth with a protective shield, reduces bacteria, and it can reverse the formation of smaller cavities that are just starting to become established.

Flossing

Along with brushing, flossing is extremely important. You may floss using a strand of the filament with the end of each firmly wrapped around each index finger. Run the floss between each tooth, from the top down to the base, making sure you also contact the gums. As the floss traverses your teeth, it should come in contact with the sides of each tooth. It also needs to be run across the entire surface of the gum at the root of each tooth.

Together, brushing and flossing work as a potent tool to control tooth decay, gum disease, and overall good dental health. In lieu of strands of dental floss, you may use a F-Shaped of Y-Shaped floss pick. These picks eliminate the need to wrap the floss around your index fingers, and they are much easier to grip and control.

Mouthwash

An antibacterial mouthwash that contains fluoride is also highly recommended. Used after every brushing, it will help kill bacteria, which is a major agent in the creation of tooth decay, and it will also aid in strengthening the enamel on your teeth and protecting your gums.

Every Tooth

Be thorough when brushing and flossing. Make sure that you come in contact with every tooth, especially those in the back, which are often left unattended or are only minimally addressed. Because they are located in the back of the mouth, these teeth and the gum areas are especially susceptible to decay and disease. It should take, at minimum, two to three minutes for each brushing.

Sound Dental Health

Primary Dental Care in Garden Grove, California, works with each patient to make sure that they understand the importance of brushing and flossing, and that they know how to properly engage in both activities. These two simple actions, which take less than 15 minutes a day total, can save you from a range of costly dental and gum problems.

For more information on brushing and flossing or to set up an appointment with Primary Dental Care, call us at 714-537-5700.