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Brushing for oral health:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
When you brush, don't rush. Take enough time to do a
thorough job.
- Use the proper equipment. Use a
fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Consider
using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, especially
if you have arthritis or other problems that make it
difficult to brush effectively.
- Practice good technique. Hold your
toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth and brush
with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the
inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your
tongue. Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, which can
irritate your gums.
Flossing for oral health You can't
reach the tight spaces between your teeth or under your
gumline with a toothbrush. That's why daily flossing is
important. When you floss:
- Don't skimp. Break off about 18 inches
of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle
finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on
the other hand - leaving about 1 inch to floss your first
tooth.
- Take one tooth at a time. Use your thumbs and
forefingers to gently pull the floss from the gumline to the
top of the tooth to scrape off plaque. Rub the floss against
all sides of the tooth. Unwind to fresh floss as you
progress to the next tooth.
- Keep it up. If you have trouble getting floss through your
teeth, try the waxed variety. If it's hard to manipulate the
floss, use a floss holder or an interdental cleaner - such
as a dental pick or stick designed to clean between the
teeth.
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