Introduction: How to Brush and Floss Your Teeth

From a young age, it has been instilled in a person that brushing and flossing their teeth is important. People shove it off to the side and often forget to do it not thinking it is a big deal. However, it is. Why? It all begins with plaque. Now, what exactly is that? Plaque is a colorless, sticky bacteria that sits on the teeth and begins to form immediately after brushing. At that point is it harmless, however, this bacterium likes to eat what you eat. When the bacteria eat certain substances such as carbohydrates and sugar, they produce acid. This acid starts to eat away at the teeth which then contributes to the beginning stages of the decay process or the formation of cavities. Ensuring all surfaces of the teeth are clean is a huge deal to avoid those pesky cavities. This is why the importance of flossing is just as great as brushing. Flossing cleans the surfaces between the teeth. When the plaque sits in the in-between surfaces for an extended period of time, the gum tissue may begin to bleed easily when you do brush and also appear inflamed. This is called gingivitis and it can easily be reversed with proper, routine brushing and flossing. Scared yet? Well, if effective, routine brushing and flossing are not performed for an even longer period of time, bacteria starts eating away at the supporting structures of the teeth. This is called periodontitis, which is inflammation of the periodontium. The periodontium is what holds all those teeth in the mouth in place. Once it comes down to this, it is not reversible like gingivitis is and can lead to the loss of all the teeth. Now that brushing two times a day and flossing at least one time a day isn’t sounding like such a horrible idea now, is it? Don’t fret, I am going to teach you how to perform effective and proper brushing and flossing techniques the ensure that all that pesky bacteria is being removed.

Supplies

First, let’s cover what is going to be needed. A faucet with running water and a sink should be readily available. For materials, a soft-bristled toothbrush is important to avoid traumatizing the gum tissue. Then a pea-sized amount of any preferred toothpaste is needed, Crest Cavity Protection is a good option. There are different flossing tools on the market. For everyday use, the is the basic, string packaged floss is a typical option; for those who struggle to get between the surfaces of the teeth, plastic flossing picks are available; and for those with permanent retainers or braces, a floss threader will be needed. For the everyday string floss, 18 inches is the preferred amount.

Step 1: Grab Floss

Now, let’s learn how to properly put all those materials together. Starting with flossing, grab the 18 inches of floss. Take the floss with both hands holding and hold both ends with the thumb and pointer fingers. Slide those fingers to the ends of the floss leaving about 1 inch left on both sides.

Step 2: Wrap Floss

Next, begin wrapping the floss lightly around both middle fingers. Wrap until there is about 2 inches of floss left between hands.

Step 3: Maneuvering the Floss

Then, start with whichever tooth and section of teeth preferred. Take the floss, putting the 2-inch section where two teeth meet. Begin to slowly use a see-saw motion to push the floss between the two teeth. Once the floss is near the gums, create a “c” shape with the floss. Then, begin using an up and down motion on the inside surfaces of both teeth. Make sure to penetrate the gums, using enough pressure to make them appear slightly white. Do not be alarmed if gums bleed the first couple of times flossing, it will disappear after routine use. Slowly, using the same see-saw motion, remove the floss out from between the teeth. Continue doing this to the rest of the teeth in the mouth, until all inside surfaces of teeth have been covered.

Step 4: Brushing

Moving onto the brushing process. Begin with picking up the soft-bristled toothbrush. Next, apply a pea-sized amount of preferred toothpaste to the bristles of the toothbrush.

Step 5: Brushing Technique

Bring the bristles horizontally to the teeth. When brushing, try to create a sequence and begin in the same section of the mouth every time. Tilt the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward the gum tissue. Then, begin brushing using a light side-to-side or back and forth motion. This is called the Bass brushing technique.

Step 6: Ensure the Whole Mouth Is Covered

When it comes to the backsides of the front teeth, angle the toothbrush vertically and, again, use an up and down motion. This is called the heel-to-toe method. Ensure to maneuver the bristles so that all front and back surfaces of teeth are being covered. Continue these motions for 2-3 minutes until the whole mouth has been brushed. Do not forget to brush the tongue, bacteria loves to build up on there as well, which is what causes bad breath.

It is as simple as that. Now you can brush and floss your teeth at ease using these effective steps. In the long run, you are truly saving yourself from having to make those extra dental office visits and ultimately saving money. The key is to continue using what you have learned and building an efficient routine.

Step 7: Video Demonstration