Dental care isn't just a matter of brushing your teeth.
You also need to use the proper toothbrush and toothpaste, visit your dentist and dental hygienist regularly, floss daily and choose a healthy diet.
The American Dental Association offers these guidelines for good oral hygiene.
Your toothbrush and toothpaste
Choose a toothbrush with soft-nylon, round-ended bristles.
Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or when bristles spread or become worn.
Use a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride makes teeth more resistant to decay.
Proper brushing
Brush your teeth twice a day. Start by placing your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth with the bristles pointing toward your gums. Starting at your gumline, gently brush the front, back and chewing surfaces of your teeth with a gentle back and forth scrubbing motion.
Change the position of your brush frequently since it can clean only two or three teeth at a time.
You may want to brush your tongue as part of your daily routine, or even use a tongue scraper, but the ADA says there is no evidence that doing so prevents bad breath. Odor-producing bacteria can come back quickly.
Proper flossing
Floss daily to remove plaque between teeth and at the gumline.
Start by wrapping an 18-inch piece of floss around your middle fingers. Hold about an inch or two of floss between your thumbs and forefingers.
Keeping it taut, work the floss between your teeth. Curve it around your teeth and gumline, and gently rub the floss up and down and back and forth.
Use a clean section of floss as it becomes dirty or frayed.
Eat well
Choose a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet. Foods that are good for the rest of your body are good for your teeth and gums too.
Reviewed 9/8/2023