WatchOral Hygiene

Your daily defense: brushing and flossing the right way

For your teeth and gums, nothing you do at home matters more than good oral hygiene. Two minutes of brushing and a minute of flossing each day, done properly, fends off cavities, keeps gum disease in check, and adds years to the life of your natural teeth. Rush it or do it wrong, though, and the plaque left behind goes on doing damage.

Both techniques are shown in detail in the video. To brush well, angle the bristles at 45 degrees toward the gumline, work in small circular sweeps, and concentrate on one or two teeth at a time for a full two minutes. The inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces are where most people miss spots, so give them their due.

Flossing comes down to the C-shape: hug the floss around each tooth and slide it gently up and down a few times below the gumline. Snapping it straight up and down never reaches the surface where plaque collects. Make both a daily habit, and at every cleaning our hygienists will let you know how your home care is paying off.

Not sure which brush, toothpaste, or technique suits you or your family? Ask at your next visit to Brammeier Family Dental. The small adjustments add up to a big difference, and we're glad to demonstrate one-on-one.

Read the video transcript