Wellness Tips

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Cleaning your teeth

 

Learning to clean your teeth efficiently and often can significantly improve your dental health.

Good dental health could also have other health benefits. A mouth full of decaying teeth and trapped and rotting food particles is unhealthy no matter which way you look at it.

Avoid toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulphate which is implicated as a cause of mouth ulcers.

Fluoride is also suspect. Look for toothpaste free of fluoride if you can.

To brush your teeth use a soft bristled toothbrush which is a size and shape that allows you to reach all the areas of your teeth easily.

Use enough toothpaste to cover the length of the bristles on your toothbrush and wet the toothpaste before use.

Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums.

You should actually brush your gums when you clean your teeth. You are trying to clean just under the gums.

Move your toothbrush back and forth gently in short strokes about the distance of a tooth.

Brush very gently. We should not provide much pressure to remove plaque from your teeth and a rigorous scrubbing could irritate your gums.

Brush both the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth and the chewing surfaces.

Use the foot of your toothbrush to clean the inside surfaces of your upper and lower teeth. Use a gentle up and down stroke for this part of your teeth.

Lightly brush your tongue to remove excess bacteria and freshen your breath.

Using Dental Floss

Flossing is essential for removing the bacteria and food particles between your teeth that the toothbrush cannot reach.

You should floss at least once a day.