Flossing Facts

To maintaining optimum oral health between your appointments, a regular and effective oral hygiene routine is essential. You should spend at least 2 minutes twice a day brushing your teeth and mouth. Here our hygienists have provided some helpful tips on how to brush effectively.

 

  • A soft bristled toothbrush with a small head enables access to hard to reach areas and will not scratch your tooth enamel like some hard bristled brushes can
  • Holding your brush at a 45-degree angle against your gum-line, brush from where the tooth and gum meet to the chewing surface in gentle short strokes. Brushing too hard can cause receding gums, tooth sensitivity, and over time loose teeth
  • Use this same method to brush the outside and inside surfaces of your back teeth
  • Tip the bristles to ensure you get into the pits and crevices of your back teeth
  • To clean the inside surfaces of your top and bottom front teeth and gums, hold your brush almost vertically and with back and forward motions, bring the front part of the brush over the teeth and gums
  • Using a forward-sweeping motion, gently brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth from back to front, this will help remove odour-causing bacteria and freshen your breath. This can sometimes take a little getting used to but it is an important part of total mouth cleaning