The Center for Modern Dentistry

Rancho Cucamonga, California

How to maintain proper dental care by brushing and flossing


An individual’s smile mainly depends on simple habits of dental care like flossing
and brushing. The following are the proper techniques of taking good care of
your oral health, in addition to seeing a top dentist in Rancho Cucamonga.


Brushing for dental health


Dental health starts with teeth that are clean. Maintaining clean the area where one’s
teeth meet the gums prevents gum disease. Keeping one’s tooth surfaces clean
also helps in staving off cavities. The American Dental Association recommends
the following brushing basics in order to maintain oral health:

·        
Brushing the teeth at least two times in a day. When brushing, it is not advisable to
rush. Enough time should be taken in order to ensure that a good, thorough job
is accomplished.

·        
Make use of the right equipment. Dentists recommend use of soft-bristled
toothbrushes as well as fluoride toothpastes. The toothbrush utilized ought to
comfortably fit in one’s mouth. A person is also in a position of considering
using battery-operated or electric toothbrushes that are capable of minimizing
plaque and mild forms of gingivitis (gum diseases) more than the manual
brushing does. These specific devices are also quite very helpful in case one
has arthritis or any other kinds of problems which make is hard for one to
effectively brush.

·        
Practice proper technique. A toothbrush should be held at a slight angle that aims its
bristles towards that area where the teeth meet one’s gums. The brushing should
then be done gently with short back-and-forth motions. An individual ought to
always remember brushing the inside, outside as well as chewing surfaces of the
teeth, as well as the tongue.

·        
Maintain the equipment clean. The toothbrush should always be rinsed after brushing with
water. The toothbrush should then be stored, if possible, in an upright
position and it be allowed to air-dry till utilizing it once again.

·        
Replace the toothbrush at proper times. It is advisable to invest in a new toothbrush
or replacement head, for the case of battery-operated or electric toothbrushes,
after every 3 to 4 months.


Flossing for dental health


A toothbrush rarely reaches the tight spaces located between his or teeth as well as under
the gum line. This is the reason why flossing on a daily basis is of absolute
importance. When flossing:

·        
Be gentle. The floss should be guided between the teeth by a rubbing motion. It
should not be snapped into the gums.

·        
Do not skimp. Break off approximately eighteen inches of dental floss. Most of the
floss should be wound about the middle finger on an individual’s hand and the
rest around the other hand’s middle finger. The floss should be tightly gripped
between the forefingers and the thumbs.


Take it a single tooth every time. One should slide the floss into the space which
is between the teeth and the gums. The floss should then be used to gently rub
the tooth’s side in up-and-down motions.