Without proper brushing and flossing, you cannot hope to enjoy good oral health. Your dentist will be able to offer professional cleaning, but it is daily routine that will keep your teeth in the best of health, keeping your smile white, and your mouth disease free. Tooth decay and disease are much more likely for people who do not brush often, and halitosis or bad breath is commonly reported by those who do not take the time to brush twice a day. Furthermore, flossing contributes to this good hygiene and prevents staining on your teeth from drinking tea, coffee, and smoking.
You should be brushing after breakfast, and just before bed, with a toothbrush that is soft on the gums as they need just as much care and attention. Every part of your tooth should be brushed, so you may want to get a toothbrush with a small head that can easily reach all of your mouth, and it should be replaced every three months. An electric toothbrush is often much more effective than a regular manual brush because of its consistency and force, and so the American Dental Association has recommended it over the manual brush.
Although many of us are quite comfortable with how and why we should be brushing our teeth, flossing on the other hand is something that many of us avoid. As flossing can remove food, plaque, and bacteria from around the gumline, however, it is absolutely vital that you do not. You do not need to worry about the flavor or type of floss that you choose, as long as you are working the floss between each of your teeth at an angle so that it can reach right into the gumline. Carefully remove any debris from your mouth, and then rinse.
