1) Practice good technique. Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth and brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.  Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, which can irritate your gums.

2) Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles become frayed.

3) You can't reach the tight spaces between your teeth or under your gumline with a toothbrush. That's why daily flossing is important. When you floss:

o      Don't skimp. Break off about 18 inches of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand leaving about 1 inch to floss your first tooth.

o   Take it one tooth at a time. Use your thumbs and forefingers to gently pull the floss from the gumline to the top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Rub the floss against all sides of the tooth. Unwind to fresh floss as you progress to the next tooth.

o   Keep it up. If you have trouble getting floss through your teeth, try the waxed variety. If it's hard to manipulate the floss, use a floss holder or an interdental cleaner such as a dental pick or stick designed to clean between the teeth.

4) In addition to daily brushing and flossing, you can use an antimicrobial or antiseptic mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth.

5) To remove food particles from your teeth, try an oral irrigator a device that aims a stream of water at your teeth. Resist the temptation to use toothpicks or other objects that could injure your gums. Keep in mind, however, an oral irrigator doesn't replace daily brushing and flossing.

6) contact your dentist if you notice any signs or symptoms that may suggest oral health problems, such as:

o       Red, tender or swollen gums

o       Gums that bleed when you brush or floss

o       Gums that begin pulling away from your teeth

o       Loose teeth

o       Changes in the way your top and bottom teeth align with each other

o       Unusual sensitivity to hot and cold

7) Fluoride can protect the teeth. Make sure that nutrition, drinking water and use of fluoride toothpaste provide the necessary quantities of fluoride.

Tips for keeping breath fresh include:

o       Rinsing your mouth with water after eating if you aren’t able to brush

o       Chewing a piece of sugarless gum to stimulate saliva flow—nature’s own cleanser

o       Snacking on celery, carrots, or apples; they tend to clear away loose food and debris during the chewing process

o       Eating a balanced diet. A vitamin deficiency may contribute to gum disease and bad breath

Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums. Following a meal or snack, the bacteria in plaque release acids that attack tooth enamel. Repeated attacks can cause the enamel to weaken, eventually causing tooth decay. Plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar. One way to prevent tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease is by eating a balanced diet and limiting the number of between-meal snacks. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit.

HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH:

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.

• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.

• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces  of the teeth.

• Use the "toe" of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a  gentle up-and-down stroke.

• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

 *Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.

• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.

• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth.

• Gently slide it into the space between the gum 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.

• Don't forget the back side of your last tooth.

 Listen everyday at 8:10 and 5:10 for the Miles of Smiles oral hygiene tips of the day

Brought to you by Century Dental Associates