Two Steps to Clean Teeth

The American Dental Association says keeping your teeth and gums clean is a two-step process. To remove food particles and decay-causing plaque from your teeth,² brush them twice a day¹ with fluoride-containing toothpaste.² To remove plaque where your toothbrush can’t reach,² be sure to floss or clean between your teeth daily.¹

These brushing and flossing tips should help keep you smiling for years to come.

Brush Up on Your Brushwork

1. Use a soft-bristled brush that reaches all areas easily.²

2. Gently move the brush back and forth in short strokes.²

3. Cover each surface of every tooth—inside, outside, and top.² Pay special attention to the gum line.

4. With the end of the brush, clean the inside surfaces of your front teeth.²

5. To keep your breath sweet and remove bacteria, brush your tongue.²

6. Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.³

Floss Away Gum Disease

1. Begin with about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers.²

2. Wrap the short end of the floss around the middle finger of your other hand. That finger will collect the floss as you use it.²You’ll guide the floss with your thumbs and index fingers.²

3. Ease the floss between your teeth with a gentle rubbing motion. Avoid snapping it onto your gums.²

4. At the gum line, curve the floss around one tooth. Now gently rub the floss up and down the side of that tooth.²

5. Repeat with each tooth, including the back sides of your end teeth.²

6. If floss is hard to use, ask your dentist about other gum-cleaning options. These include brushes, picks, and sticks.²

¹ “Cleaning Your Teeth and Gums.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/2624.aspx Accessed 2010.

² “Cleaning Your Teeth and Gums: Frequently Asked Questions.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/2624.aspx

Accessed 2010.

³ “ ADA Seal of Acceptance Program.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/1321.aspx Accessed 2010.