Proper Brushing and Flossing Techniques

Proper Brushing and Flossing Techniques

Even if you feel too tired to brush and floss your teeth, your smile depends upon you practicing good dental hygiene habits every day.
Here are some brushing and flossing tips so that you can effectively and properly care for your teeth.

Brushing
Practice good technique by holding your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth. Brush your teeth with back and forth motions, rather than up and down. Pay special attention to brush all surfaces of your teeth as well as your tongue. Avoid using excess force or brushing too rigorously, both of which can irritate your gums.

Flossing
Daily flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth. Your toothbrush does an excellent job at cleaning your teeth, but flossing your teeth allows you to remove debris and bacteria from in between your teeth, which if not removed can lead to dental caries as well as bad breath.

To floss your teeth, start with 18 inches of dental floss and wind the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. Leave just about one inch of floss and use your thumbs and forefingers to gently glide the floss in between teeth in a sawing motion. You can also rub the floss over the surface of your teeth to remove plaque.

Unwind and then rewind so that you have fresh floss as you progress to the next tooth.

If you have additional questions about brushing or flossing your teeth, or if you’re experiencing pain or bleeding gums while you brush and/or floss, contact Livonia Dental Care. We would be happy to address your concerns and show you more comfortable techniques to care for your teeth. For more information on this topic or any dental related procedure check out our website. If you have any questions, or a dental emergency, you can reach Dr. Jay at Livonia Dental Care at 734-427-7555. “Like” us on Facebook and check out our YouTube.