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HOW TO BRUSH AND FLOSS
Proper brushing removes plaque from inner, outer and chewing surfaces of teeth. You should spend at least 2 minutes twice a day brushing.
It’s simple
- Prepare the toothbrush with a pea size drop of toothpaste.
- Use a timer set for two minutes and begin brushing.
If you did a good job the timer will ring as you finish.
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Outer Surfaces
Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle at gumline, where the gums and the teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a vibrating back & forth motion, brushing 2-3 teeth at a time.
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Inner Surfaces
Maintain a 45-degree angle with the bristles contacting both the tooth and the gum. Gently brush along all of the inner tooth surfaces using a back, forth and rolling motion.
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Behind the Front Teeth
The backs of the front teeth need special attention. To clean these hard-to-reach surfaces, hold the toothbrush vertically. Make several gentle back & forth (up & down) strokes over each tooth and it’s surrounding gum.
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Chewing Surfaces
Use a gentle back & forth scrubbing motion to clean the biting surface of the teeth. Don’t forget to brush behind the back teeth!
Flossing removes plaque between the teeth and at the gum line where a toothbrush can’t reach. Brushing without flossing is like not cleaning several of your teeth!
Use a gentle zigzag motion to guide the floss until it rests on the gum. Do not snap floss between your teeth!
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Prepare the Floss
Tear off a length of floss, about 18 inches or the length of a child’s arm, and wind it around the middle fingers of both hands. leave a 2 inch section between the fingers.
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Guide the Floss
Holding the floss taut between the fingers, use the index fingers to guide the floss between the lower teeth and the thumbs to guide the floss between the upper teeth.
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Cleaning with Floss
Curve the floss around in a C shape. In slow, careful movements, slide the floss up and down against the tooth surface and under the gum line.
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Repeat
Move onto the next tooth when you are done. Use a clean section of floss for each tooth. Don’t forget to floss behind the back teeth!