BRUSHING

Regular brushing prevents tooth decay by removing plaque bacteria and food debris. You should brush at least twice a day -- after breakfast and before bedtime. This removes food that provide nutrients to the plaque bacteria. 

Plaque bacteria produce acids when they break down sugar from the foods that we eat. These acids work on the tooth enamel, softening it, therefore, it is recommended to wait 40 minutes to 1 hour after eating before you brush your teeth. This time allows the acids to dissipate and for your saliva to work in re-hardening the tooth surface, preventing the thinning of your enamel. 

But if you don't have that time to spare, don't worry. It is still better to brush your teeth after the meal than to not, in order to get rid of food debris and control plaque bacteria levels on your teeth. 

Make sure your toothbrush has soft bristles, and that you change your toothbrush every 3 months. Soft bristles are firm enough to remove bacteria effectively while remaining soft so as to not cause irreversible damage to your teeth like tooth abrasion and/or gum recession. 

You should spend at least 2 minutes every time you brush to ensure that you are sufficiently brushing every surface of your teeth. Using a timer or listening to your favorite song may help you keep the proper time while brushing.

Remember to brush your tongue! Your tongue has little hair-like projections that harbour food and bacteria. Bad breath usually comes from the tongue not being kept clean. There are many benefits from brushing your tongue, such as being able to taste your food better, improve your sense of smell, and having fresher breath. 

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FLOSSING

​Flossing is important because it removes plaque and food particles from areas that you cannot reach with your toothbrush. About 1/3 of your tooth’s surface can only be reached by flossing. You should floss at least once a day. Be thorough, but don’t press the floss too hard against your gums. Improper flossing or flossing too hard may cause your gums to recede and create floss cuts--these are irreversible.

​Your gums may bleed when you first begin to floss, but generally resolves with persistent flossing because the gums will be healthier with consistent daily flossing. If the bleeding persists during flossing, make an appointment with our office.