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DENTAL CARE

Dental Care

Why Brush and Floss?
Brushing and flossing every day will help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Having clean teeth also makes you look and feel better. Your breath is fresher. Your smile is brighter. And your teeth feel smooth.

Fighting Plaque
Many kinds of bacteria live in your mouth. These germs collect on your teeth and gums and quickly form a sticky film called plaque. Plaque is the major cause of tooth decay and gum disease. Since plaque is always forming, it needs to be removed every day. Brushing removes plaque from the surfaces of your teeth. Flossing breaks up plaque between your teeth and under your gums.

How to Brush
Brush after meals, using a soft brush and a fluoride toothpaste. Start at one place and work all the way around your mouth. Brush the front, back and top of each tooth.

  • Hold the brush at a 45° angle and gently brush the outer surfaces, using a circular or back-and-forth motion.
  • Brush the inner surfaces of the back teeth using the same circular or back-and-forth motion.
  • Turn the brush and use the tip to clean the inner surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth.
  • Clean the chewing surfaces using a scrubbing motion. Brush your tongue, then rinse well.

How to Floss
Floss at least once a day to remove plaque between the teeth and below the gums. Start at one place and work all the way around your mouth. Floss between each tooth as shown below.

  • Wrap 18 inches of floss around your middle fingers. Secure it with your index fingers and thumbs.
  • Ease the floss between your teeth. Press it against one side, then the other, to form a C-shape.
  • Work the floss back and forth and up and down, going below the gum line where plaque collects.

NOTE: If you have a bridge or wear braces, use a floss threader to get the floss under the bridge or the wires.

How Can I help Prevent Cavities? Why do I get cavities?
Tooth decay (or dental caries) may occur when the acids in plaque attack your teeth. Plaque is the sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on everyone’s teeth daily. After you eat, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack the tooth enamel. After repeated acid attacks, the enamel can break down and a cavity may form. Children are the most cavity-prone, but adults of all ages can be affected, too. In fact, two out of three cavities in people over 50 are a result of decay around existing fillings, and most people over 60 have root caries as result of gum diseases.

How can I remove harmful plaque?
To remove plaque before it leads to tooth decay, children and cavity-prone adults should try to clean their teeth after every meal and snack.

A thorough job of brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces of your teeth. When you floss, you’ll remove plaque from between teeth and under your gumline where your toothbrush can’t reach. Refer to brushing techniques above.

Do I have to stop eating sweets?
Foods with sugar and starches, especially those that stick to your teeth, can cause plaque acids to develop and begin the process of tooth decay. It’s better to substitute vegetables, nuts, milk, cheese, pizza and popcorn. But if you do eat sugary foods, eat them with your meal instead of as a snack. A well-balanced diet helps maintain a healthy body, and that includes your teeth, jaw bone and mouth.

How does fluoride help me?
Fluoride is a beneficial natural mineral that safely strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent decay. In communities where fluoride has been added to the drinking water, the children have up to 65% fewer cavities! If your water doesn’t have enough fluoride, your dentist may prescribe daily supplements, such as tablets or drops, for your children. It’s best if they take them from birth until age 13.

For extra protection, you and your family should use dental care products containing fluoride like all Colgate® or Crest® toothpastes and Fluorigard® and Act mouthrinse. These carry the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.