What You Should Know About Brushing and Flossing

Have you ever visited a dentist? If so, you may know that brushing and flossing your pearly whites is important. However, did you know that there are a few things several Americans might be able to do a little better when it comes to cleaning their teeth?

Still, would you be surprised to learn that one important part of brushing your teeth is actually moving your brush in small circular motions instead of up and down? Nearly every electric toothbrush is made to spin the right way, but you should check before choosing a brush. You should also be careful not to brush too hard. Otherwise, you might damage your pearly whites and your gums. Finally, did you know that you may not be brushing for long enough? We suggest brushing for two minutes at a time every time.

Of course, you’ll also need to floss at least once a day. With floss, you’ll be able to clean areas of your mouth that you might not be able to with a toothbrush. You’ll also need to make a “c” shape with your floss to clean your teeth as effectively as possible. Lastly, you should move your floss up and down instead of pulling it back and forth and you should use about 18 inches of floss each time.

Finally, please remember that the order in which you brush and floss isn’t incredibly important, though there are arguments for both. Some argue that brushing first is better because doing so will let floss move fluoride around your teeth. Others say that brushing first will help your floss remove more food particles. In the end, the choice is yours.

Would you like to learn more about things you could do to brush or floss more effectively? Are you interested in learning more about the care you can receive from our team in Staten Island, New York? Do you just want to set up an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Matthew Scaffa? If so, we invite you to give Dental Art Concepts PLLC a call at (718) 313-4343. We’ll be glad to address any of your concerns and are eager to hear from you.