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Dental Education
Dental Organizations
Dental Resources
 
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Proper Brushing
Proper brushing helps minimize the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, the major causes of tooth loss. Use a soft-bristle brush and an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and food particles. Replace your brush every three months. |
| For thorough but gentle cleaning, use a soft toothbrush (synthetic bristles peferably because natural bristles tend to harbor the oral bacteria as the bristles are more porous). |  |
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| Hold your brush at a 45º angle. Begin by brushing the outside of the front teeth. Use gentle, half-tooth wide, back and forth strokes. |  |
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| Next, brush the outside back teeth, the tongue side and the chewing surfaces of your teeth starting along the gumline. |  |
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| Inside back teeth. Use short, angled brush strokes. |  |
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| Inside front teeth, brush the surfaces of the upper and lower faws by tilting the brush vertically and making several up and down strokes with the front part of the brush over the teeth and gum tissues. |  |
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| Chewing surfaces. Hold the brush flat. Use a gentle motion. Finish by brushing your tongue which will help freshen your breath. Debris and bacteria can collect on your tongue and cause bad breath. |  |
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