How to Brush and Floss Like Dental Pros

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing at least twice daily for two minutes, followed by flossing for home care. However, the most significant differences between a professional dental cleaning and daily brushing and flossing are time and technique. 

Danny Jeon, DMD, helps you learn how to brush and floss to keep cavities and gum disease at bay. Our expert team also provides professional cleaning plus other preventive and cosmetic dental procedures to help maintain your smile at Tucker Family Dental in Tucker, GA.

Why good dental hygiene is crucial

Whether at home or in the dental office, practicing good dental hygiene protects your mouth and overall health. Brushing and flossing correctly is the first step in fighting:

1. Tooth decay
2. Halitosis, aka bad breath
3. Bleeding or receding gums
4. Toothaches
5. Infections of the mouth caused by bacteria or viruses 

A surprising number of diseases are also linked to poor dental health, including cardiovascular disease and strokes. A regular dental cleaning routine helps curtail tooth decay and gum problems, which spread unwanted bacteria throughout your mouth and body. 

Brush up on your technique

We could all use a refresher on brushing our teeth. Dr. Jeon recommends using fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day. Select the best type of toothbrush bristles based on your sensitivity. Soft bristles remain the safest.

When using a manual toothbrush:

1. Place your brush on each tooth at a 45-degree angle from the gums
2. Brush gently in tiny circles to remove debris away from the gum line
3. Remember to address the inside tooth surfaces.
4. Brush the top of your molars 
5. Finish by rinsing with alcohol-free mouthwash

Dr. Jeon recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3-4  months, whenever the bristles are frayed, or following any respiratory-type illness to avoid reinfection. 

Take your time, spending around 30 seconds on each quadrant in your mouth. Also, avoid brushing too aggressively, which may increase tooth sensitivity and gum recession. 

Floss is boss

Brushing alone won’t remove all the debris from your teeth. Left in your mouth, plaque forms into tartar, which can lead to tooth decay and gum issues.

Choose from traditional dental floss, interdental brushes, or water flossers. Water flossers help rinse away debris and plaque from bridges, braces, and dental implants. Traditional string floss works well for most people. 

Dr. Jeon suggests flossing after meals and at night after brushing. Simply:

1. Tear off around 1-1/2 feet of floss
2. Wrap each side around the middle finger on both hands
3. Grip the floss between your thumbs and forefingers
4. Gently glide it several times up and down the sides of each tooth
5. Avoid using a sawing motion, which can irritate your gums
6. Use a different part of the floss for each tooth so you don’t reapply any debris

Follow-up with a tongue scraper. Simply move it from the back to the front of your tongue to remove additional bacteria.

Practice makes nearly perfect

Our oral microbiome incorporates a range of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live on our teeth, tongue, and gums. While some of these microbes serve a purpose, good dental hygiene helps destroy the harmful ones.

It’s important to visit us at least every six months to keep winning the fight. If you’d like to schedule a professional cleaning or discuss any other dental issues, just call our office at (678) 233-2945 or book an appointment online with Tucker Family Dental today.