Brushing
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride
toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in
small circular motions to reach food particles that may be
under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and
brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth
and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes
to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth,
down on the upper teeth and the outside, inside and chewing
surface of all of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue
and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of
food particles and plaque:
* In the morning after breakfast
* After lunch or right after school
* After dinner
* At bedtime
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your
toothbrush with a new one. Do not swallow any toothpaste;
rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish
brushing. It is important to carefully floss and brush daily for
optimal oral hygiene.
Flossing
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can't reach,
dental floss is used to remove food particles and plaque.
Dental floss is a thin thread of waxed nylon that is used to
reach below the gum line and clean between teeth. It is very
important to floss between your teeth every day.
Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends
of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss
between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out any food
particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your
fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from
beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your
back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are squeaky clean before
you go to bed. When you first begin flossing, your gums may
bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first
few times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.