Brushing and Flossing
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I hate flossing
teeth, do you?
Brushing teeth with
fluoride toothpaste
after each time you eat or at least twice daily
and flossing
at least once daily is essential for
good oral health, which includes healthy teeth
and fresh breath.
Our mouth Your mouth is a
busy place. Bacteria
- tiny colonies of living organisms are constantly
on the
move on your teeth, gums, lips and
tongue.
Having bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing.
While some of the bacteria can be harmful, most
are not and some
are even helpful.
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 Certain types of
bacteria, however, can attach themselves to hard
surfaces like the enamel that
covers your teeth. If they're not
removed, they multiply and grow in number until a colony forms.
More bacteria of different types attach to the colony
already
growing on the tooth enamel. Proteins that are present in your
saliva
(spit) also mix in and the bacteria colony becomes a whitish
film on the tooth.
This film is called plaque, and it's what causes
cavities.
Untreated tooth
decay causes more severe problems and can lead
to gum disease.
How to brush teeth
 The head of your toothbrush should be placed beside the
teeth and the
tips of the
bristles placed at a 45-degree-angle to the gum line. A toothbrush
should be soft and
bristles should have rounded ends to avoid hurting gum.
Gently move the toothbrush back and forth using short
strokes and a
scrubbing
motion, several times in each spot.
Apply just enough pressure (equivalent to the weight of an orange at 150 grams) to feel
the bristles against the gums, if you are squashing the bristles, you are
brushing too
hard. Recent study by researchers at the University of Newcastle say there is little
evidence to show that longer and harder brushing makes teeth cleaner-the experts
warned that people who brush their teeth too hard and for too long could be increasing
the risk of permanently damaging the protective layer on teeth and harming gums.
Make sure bristles are angled against gum line brushing both
the inner
and outer side
of teeth
Brush the chewing surface straight on
Cleaning the inside of front teeth can be challenging. Tilt
brush
vertically, making up
and down strokes with the front of your toothbrush
Finish by brushing your tongue, to remove food particles
that may be
stuck in the
tongue.
It is important to
replace toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or as soon as the bristles are
worn and
bent. Worn out toothbrushes do not brush effectively and may injure your
gums.
Also, replace toothbrush after you have had a cold.
Flossing teeth
Brushing your teeth
alone is not enough for healthy teeth. Flossing your teeth is equally
important
for this how the food particles trapped in between your teeth is removed.
Flossing can be tedious
to do, no wonder most of us prefer to skip it. New products are
being designed
and introduced to the market everyday in order to make the flossing
process easier and less overwhelming.
How to Floss teeth
Slide the floss in
between teeth, curve the floss around each tooth and gently slide it
under the
gum line. Move the floss firmly and gently up and down and zigzag rubbing
motion several
times to scrape off the plaque.
Note: Improper flossing
can injure your gums. If you have not been flossing regularly,
your gums may
bleed and be sore for the first 4 to 5 days. As plaque is removed, your
gums
will heal and the bleeding will stop.
New
study drives home the importance of Tooth Brushing and
Dental
Flossing
Dental
Problems do not go away without attention
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