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Complete Brushing
Brushing your teeth at least twice daily helps prevent 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 two to three months.
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On outer and inner surfaces, brush at a 45-degree angle in short, half-tooth-wide strokes against the gumline. |
| On chewing surfaces, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth. |
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On inside surfaces of front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up-and-down strokes with toe of brush. |
| Brush your tongue in a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food particles and freshen your mouth. |
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Proper Flossing
Flossing daily removes plaque and food particles between teeth and below the gumline.
| Wrap an 18-inch strand around your middle fingers and hold a one-inch section tightly. |
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Ease floss between your teeth. Clean up and down several times while curving around teeth at the gumline. Don't scrub. |
| Wrap floss around each side of each tooth. |
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Use flat waxed floss marked as "dental tape" if spaces between your teeth are very tight. |
| Always floss behind the last tooth. Unwind clean floss as you proceed. |
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Floss around the abutment teeth of a bridge and under artificial teeth using a floss threader to guide floss between the teeth through the side. |
You may experience sore or bleeding gums for the first several days you floss. Don't stop flossing. Bleeding should stop if you continue to floss every day. If bleeding continues after the first week of flossing, call your dentist. If you are having trouble handling floss, you can ask about the use of a floss holder or other types of interdental cleaning aids.
People who have difficulty handling dental floss may prefer to use another kind of interdental cleaner. These aids include special brushes, picks or sticks. If you use interdental cleaners, ask your dentist about how to use them properly, to avoid injuring your gums.
For more information about recommended dental products browse our Products section.