Daily brushing and flossing are of paramount importance to oral hygiene. Though regular professional dental cleanings are required to remove plaque, tartar and debris, your daily home care routine is equally important. Proper brushing and flossing can enhance the health of your mouth, prevent dental diseases, and increase the longevity of dental restorations.

Reasons why proper brushing and flossing are essential:

• Prevention of tooth decay – Tooth decay is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and its treatment often requires complex dental procedures.  Tooth decay occurs when the acids found in plaque erode the hard outermost enamel layer found on the teeth.  This phenomenon can easily be prevented by using proper home hygiene methods, fluorides, and controlling the amount of sugar in your diet.
• Prevention of periodontal disease – Periodontal disease is a serious, progressive condition which can cause tooth loss, gum recession and jawbone resorption.  Periodontal disease is caused when toxins produced by bacterial plaque attack the supporting gums and bone, and can lead to serious health problems in other parts of the body.  Removing plaque from the surfaces of the teeth using a toothbrush, and from the interdental areas using dental floss, is an excellent way to stave off periodontal problems.
• Prevention of halitosis – Bad breath or halitosis can be caused by old food particles on or between the teeth and sulfur compounds formed at the base of the tongue.  These food particles and sulfur compounds can be removed with regular brushing and flossing of the teeth and the tongue; leaving the mouth healthier, and breath smelling fresher.  
• Prevention of staining – Staining or the yellowing of teeth can be caused by a wide variety of factors such as smoking, coffee, tea, colas, and red wine.  The more regularly these staining agents are removed from the teeth using brushing and flossing techniques, the less likely it is that the stains will become permanent.

The Proper Way to Brush

The teeth should be brushed for two minutes at least twice a day; ideally in the morning and before bed. The perfect toothbrush is small in size with soft, rounded-end bristles and no more than three months old. The head of the brush needs to be small enough to access all areas of the mouth, and the bristles should be soft enough so as not to cause undue damage to the gum tissue.  Here is a basic guide to proper brushing:

1. Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet.
2. Use gentle back and forth movements to brush along the gumline and teeth.
3. Do not scrub or apply too much pressure to the teeth, as this can damage the gums and tooth enamel.
4. Brush every surface of every tooth, cheek-side, tongue-side, and chewing surfaces. Place special emphasis on the surfaces of the back teeth.
5. Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of the front teeth.
6. Use back and forth strokes to brush the chewing surfaces.
7. Brush the tongue to remove bacteria, food and debris, and to freshen your breath.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has given electric toothbrushes their seal of approval; stating that those with rotating or oscillating heads are more effective than other toothbrushes. They are easy to use and can remove more plaque in the same amount of brushing time as compared to a manual toothbrush. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time.

The Proper Way to Floss

Flossing is a great way to remove plaque from the interdental regions (between the teeth). Flossing is an especially important tool for preventing periodontal disease and improving the depth of the gum pockets. The interdental regions are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and should be cleansed with dental floss on a daily basis. The flavor and type of floss are unimportant; choose floss that will be easy and pleasant to use.

Here is a basic guide to proper flossing:

1. Cut a piece of floss to around 18 inches long.
2. Wrap one end of the floss around the middle finger of the left hand and the other end around the middle finger of the right hand until the hands are 2-3 inches apart.
3. Work the floss gently between the teeth toward the gum line.
4. Curve the floss in a U-shape around each individual tooth and carefully slide it up and down along the side of the tooth and below the gum line to remove interdental plaque and debris. 
5. Be careful not to pop the floss in and out between the teeth as this can inflame and cut the gums.  

Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.

Rinsing – It is important to rinse your mouth with water after meals if you are unable to brush.  If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, it’s a good idea to consult with your dentist or dental hygienist on its appropriateness for you.

Use other dental aids as recommended by your dentist or dental hygienist: Interdental brushes, rubber tip stimulators, tongue cleaners, irrigation devices, fluoride, medicated rinses, etc., can all play a role in good dental home care.

If you have any questions about the correct way to brush or floss, please ask your dentist or dental hygienist.