Brushing & Flossing Instructions – Wellesley, MA
Make the Most of Your Daily Oral Healthcare Routine
Brushing and flossing your teeth are your main defense against all manner of oral health problems. An effective daily dental care routine could be what stands between you and issues like cavities, tooth infections, periodontitis, and tooth loss. During your appointments, we will be more than happy to demonstrate the ideal ways you should brush and floss your teeth. To learn more, read on or call our office today.
Toothbrushing & Flossing Instructions
Below, we will break down each step of brushing and flossing your teeth effectively. These methods optimize how much plaque and bacteria are removed from your mouth during a two-minute, twice-a-day brushing and flossing session.
Printable Toothbrushing & Flossing Instructions
Toothbrushing Instructions
TOOTH BRUSHING: STEP 1
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum.
TOOTH BRUSHING: STEP 2
Brush gently in a circular motion.
TOOTH BRUSHING: STEP 3
Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
TOOTH BRUSHING: STEP 4
Use the tip of your brush for the inner surface of your front teeth.
Flossing Instructions
FLOSSING: STEP 1
Wind about 18 inches of floss around your fingers as shown. Most of it should be wrapped around one finger, and the other finger takes it up as the floss is used.
FLOSSING: STEP 2
Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide about one inch of floss between your teeth.
FLOSSING: STEP 3
Holding the floss tightly, gently saw it between your teeth. Then curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it beneath your gums.
FLOSSING: STEP 4
Slide the floss up and down, repeating for each tooth.
Brushing & Flossing with Braces
When you have braces, it's very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your orthodontic treatment. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask us and we can help you choose the right products for your teeth and your appliance.
TOOTHBRUSHING WITH BRACES
Brush your teeth for two minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. As an alternative, you can use a powered toothbrush to increase your brushing effectiveness. Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush your teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of your front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets or other appliances.
FLOSSING WITH BRACES
Flossing after every meal will help keep your teeth and braces clean, which will also help keep your treatment time on track. To floss with braces, use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss to thread the floss behind each wire. Wrap the ends of the floss around your pointer fingers of both hands, leaving a few inches of taut floss between them. Gently slide the floss between each set of teeth using a back and forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Repeat this process until you’ve flossed all of your teeth. If you find that your floss is not removing all of the food particles between your teeth and around your braces, ask us about a water flosser!