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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.
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