What Is the Proper Way to Brush Your Teeth?
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle to the brush head. Brush in small circles, making sure that the toothbrush is also making contact with the gums. You should make sure you brush each quadrant of the mouth thoroughly, allocating 30 seconds for each section for a total of two minutes. Just remember not to brush too hard, as this can wear away at the teeth and gums.
You can also brush your tongue after you are done with your teeth to remove extra food particles. Some people prefer using a tongue scraper for this purpose.
What Is the Proper Way to Floss Teeth?
Using dental floss (waxed is often easier to use), you’ll first cut off a long piece of floss, approximately 12 to 16 inches in length. Wrap the floss around either your index or middle fingers, whatever feels most comfortable. You should have 2 inches of floss open between the fingers. Insert this floss strip between the teeth sequentially to gently remove debris.
You may need to rinse the floss or move to a new section of floss if the floss has too much debris on it. If you don’t like holding the floss, you can also use a floss holder.
Some dental health experts recommend flossing before you brush because the toothpaste can reach the cleaned-out areas better. However, many people prefer to floss afterward.