{"id":4119,"date":"2013-09-04T23:28:26","date_gmt":"2013-09-05T05:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/?page_id=4119"},"modified":"2023-08-14T12:16:20","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T18:16:20","slug":"how-to-properly-brush-and-floss","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/services\/cleanings-and-prevention\/how-to-properly-brush-and-floss","title":{"rendered":"How to Properly Brush and Floss"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Brushing and flossing are of paramount importance to oral hygiene.\u00a0 Though bi-annual professional dental cleanings remove plaque, tartar and debris, excellent homecare methods are equally valuable.\u00a0 Proper brushing and flossing can enhance the health of the mouth, make the smile sparkle and prevent serious diseases.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Reasons why proper brushing and flossing are essential:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Prevention of tooth decay<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> \u2013 Tooth decay is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and its treatment often requires complex dental procedures.\u00a0 Tooth decay occurs when the acids found in plaque erode the natural enamel found on the teeth.\u00a0 This phenomenon can easily be prevented by using proper home hygiene methods.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Prevention of periodontal disease<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> \u2013 Periodontal disease is a serious, progressive condition which can cause tooth loss, gum recession and jawbone recession.\u00a0 Periodontal disease is caused by the toxins found in plaque, and can lead to serious health problems in other parts of the body.\u00a0 Removing plaque and calculus (tartar) from the surface of the tooth using a toothbrush, and from the interdental areas using dental floss, is an excellent way to stave off periodontal problems.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Prevention of halitosis<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> \u2013 Bad breath or halitosis is usually caused by old food particles on or between the teeth.\u00a0 These food particles can be removed with regular brushing and flossing; leaving the mouth healthier, and breath smelling fresher.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Prevention of staining<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"> \u2013 Staining or the yellowing of teeth can be caused by a wide variety of factors such as smoking, coffee and tea.\u00a0 The more regularly these staining agents are removed from the teeth using brushing and flossing techniques, the less likely it is that the stains will become permanent.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The Proper Way to Brush<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The teeth should be brushed at least twice a day; ideally in the morning and before bed.\u00a0 The perfect toothbrush is small in size with soft, rounded-end bristles and no more than three months old.\u00a0 The head of the brush needs to be small enough to access all areas of the mouth, and the bristles should be soft enough so as not to cause undue damage to the gum tissue.\u00a0 The American Dental Association (ADA) has given electric toothbrushes their seal of approval; stating that those with rotating or oscillating heads are more effective than other toothbrushes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Here is a basic guide to proper brushing:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Use small circular motions to gently brush the gumline and teeth. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Do not scrub or apply too much pressure to the teeth, as this can damage the gums and tooth enamel. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Brush every surface of every tooth, cheek-side, tongue-side, and chewing surfaces. Place special emphasis on the surfaces of the back teeth. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Use back and forth strokes to brush the chewing surfaces. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Brush the tongue to remove fungi, food and debris. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The Proper Way to Floss<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from the interdental regions (between the teeth). \u00a0Flossing is an especially important tool for preventing periodontal disease and limiting the depth of the gum pockets.\u00a0 The interdental regions are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and should be cleansed with dental floss on a daily basis.\u00a0 The flavor and type of floss are unimportant; choose floss that will be easy and pleasant to use.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Here is a basic guide to proper flossing:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Cut a piece of floss to around 18 inches long. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Wrap one end of the floss around the middle finger of the left hand and the other end around the middle finger of the right hand until the hands are 2-3 inches apart. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Work the floss gently between the teeth toward the gum line. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Curve the floss in a U-shape around each individual tooth and carefully slide it beneath the gum line. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Carefully move the floss up and down several times to remove interdental plaque and debris. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Do not pop the floss in and out between the teeth as this will inflame and cut the gums. <\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>If you have any questions about the correct way to brush or floss, please ask your dentist or dental hygienist<\/i><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brushing and flossing are of paramount importance to oral hygiene.\u00a0 Though bi-annual professional dental cleanings remove plaque, tartar and debris, excellent homecare methods are equally valuable.\u00a0 Proper brushing and flossing can enhance the health of the mouth, make the smile sparkle and prevent serious diseases. Reasons why proper brushing and flossing are essential: Prevention of tooth decay \u2013 Tooth decay is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and its treatment often requires complex dental procedures.\u00a0 Tooth decay occurs when the acids found in plaque erode the natural enamel found on the teeth.\u00a0 This phenomenon can easily be prevented by using proper home hygiene methods. Prevention of periodontal disease \u2013 Periodontal disease is a serious, progressive condition which can cause tooth loss, gum recession and jawbone recession.\u00a0 Periodontal disease is caused by the toxins found in plaque, and can lead to serious health problems in other parts of the body.\u00a0 Removing plaque and calculus (tartar) from the surface of the tooth using a toothbrush, and from the interdental areas using dental floss, is an excellent way to stave off periodontal problems. Prevention of halitosis \u2013 Bad breath or halitosis is usually caused by old food particles on or between the teeth.\u00a0 These food particles can be removed with regular brushing and flossing; leaving the mouth healthier, and breath smelling fresher. Prevention of staining \u2013 Staining or the yellowing of teeth can be caused by a wide variety of factors such as smoking, coffee and tea.\u00a0 The more regularly these staining agents are removed from the teeth using brushing and flossing techniques, the less likely it is that the stains will become permanent. The Proper Way to Brush The teeth should be brushed at least  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":4110,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4119","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4119"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4182,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4119\/revisions\/4182"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mckenzielakedental.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}