People can take care of their teeth and gums by following four basic steps: brushing, flossing, eating right and visiting the dentist.
Teeth must be brushed at least twice a day, but it is good to do it after every meal because with brushing a film of bacteria – plaque is removed so in the contact with food it cannot produce acid which leads to cavities.
When brushing teeth, a person must first place a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste on the head of the toothbrush and then move the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line by small circular motion across the teeth. The pressure on the teeth must not be hard.
Teeth must be brushed from the gum line to the top of the chewing surface and the front and the back side of the teeth. After brushing all the teeth for about three minutes a tongue must be brushed with a few gentle strokes from the back of the tongue to forward to help remove bacteria and refresh the breath. At the end, a person must rinse mouth with water. Toothbrush must be replaced with new one every 3 to 4 months.
A person must floss once a day to get rid of food and plaque between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. First, about an 18-inch strip of floss must be removed from the dispenser and winded around the middle fingers leaving a 1-inch section open for flossing.
Then, floss is gently pushed between the teeth and in the C-shape moved up and down against the tooth and up and around the gum line. Each tooth must be flossed with a new clean section of floss.
To have healthy teeth and gums, a person must avoid eating food that contains sugar and starch like candies and sugary gum because these foods produce the most acids in the mouth and them longer stay in the mouth causing the damage to the teeth.
Every six months, a person must have regular check-ups and professional cleanings by the dentist but if a person feels pain in teeth or mouth or have swollen gums, he/she must visit the dentist immediately. Also, the dentist can put dental sealant on the chewing surfaces of the person’s teeth to protect the teeth from decay.
