Do not short change your time when it comes to brushing your teeth. Two minutes is the minimum time you need to clean all of your teeth. If you need to set a timer or brush to a song on the radio. But do not skimp on brushing time. While brushing your teeth make sure to brush each tooth thoroughly.

When brushing your teeth make sure not to brush too hard. Doing so can damage your gums. Brushing too hard can cause your gums to recede. Plaque attaches to teeth like jam sticks to a spoon. It can not be totally removed by rinsing, but a light brushing will do the trick. Once plaque has hardened into calculus (tartar), brushing ca not remove it. If you think you might brush too hard, hold your toothbrush the same way you hold a pen. This encourages a lighter stroke.

It is important to brush your teeth for good oral health care but over brushing is not helpful. Therefore brush no more than three times a day. Brushing after lunch will give you a good midday cleaning. But brushing too often can damage your gums.

One of the first oral health care tip is to brush your teeth at least twice a day. One of those times should be just before you go to bed. When you sleep, your mouth gets drier. This makes it easier for acids from bacteria to attack your teeth. Then when you wake you will want to brush your teeth after breakfast. That way, bits of food are removed. But if you eat in your car or at work, or skip breakfast, brush first thing in the morning. This will get rid of the plaque that built up overnight.

It is important to visit a dentist regular in order to prevent gum disease and other oral health problems. Therefore make sure to schedule regular dental cleanings and exams. In the meantime, you will want to contact your dentist if you notice any signs or symptoms that could suggest oral health problems, such as:

• Red, tender or swollen gums
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Gums that begin pulling away from your teeth
• Loose permanent teeth
• Changes in the way your top and bottom teeth align with each other
• Unusual sensitivity to hot and cold
• Persistent bad breath or an unusual taste in your mouth
  Early detection and treatment of oral health problems with your gums, teeth and mouth can help ensure a lifetime of good oral health.

In order to get the most out of flossing, here are some flossing tips that may help you maximize your flossing.

1) Length of Floss: Do not be skimpy on the amount of floss you use. Brake off about 18 inches of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. Grip the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.

2) Be Gentle: Do not snap the floss into your gums or be rough when flossing. You want to guide the floss between your teeth using a rubbing motion, when the floss reaches your gumline curve it against one tooth

3) Take your time: Flossing should not be rush. Make sure to take one tooth at a time. Slide the floss into the space between your gum and tooth. Use the floss to gently rub the side of the tooth in an up-and-down motion. Unwind fresh floss as you progress to the rest of your teeth.

4) Keep it up: Flossing like brushing should be done at least twice a day every day after eating. Yet many people forget this important part of their daily dental care habit. There by only get half the benefit need for good oral health care.

Don’t Forget to Floss. Flossing is an important part of your daily dental care habits. Do not stop with brushing your teeth or you are just doing half the job. You can not reach the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gum line with a toothbrush. That is why brushing alone is not good enough, and brushing and flossing is necessary in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Your toothbrush is not meant to last a life time, that why it is important to know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months, sooner if the brush bristles become frayed.

It is important to take proper care of your toothbrush. You want to always rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing your teeth. Store your toothbrush in an upright position, if possible, and allow it to air-dry until using it again. You do not want to routinely cover toothbrushes or store them in closed containers, doing so can encourage the growth of bacteria.

Brushing Your Teeth Correctly Can Take Some Practice.

Sometimes in order to do something well it does take some practice. Make sure you are brushing your teeth correctly and if not practice brushing you teeth so you can have good technique.

Brushing Your Teeth: You will want to hold your toothbrush at a slight angle, aim the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue.

Using the Correct Equipment in Maintaining Your Dental Health

In order to get the job done right you must first start with using the right tools for the job. The same can be said about your oral health care. Make sure to use toothpaste with fluoride and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably.

You may want to consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush effectively. A side benefit is they can help to reduce plaque and a mild form of gum disease (gingivitis) more than manual brushing dose.

Your oral health starts with clean teeth. By keeping the area where your teeth meet your gums clean you can help to prevent gum disease. Keeping your tooth surfaces clean will help you prevent cavities. Consider these brushing basics from the American Dental Association:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth allowing you to reach all areas easily.
• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
• Make sure to use an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.
• The proper brushing technique is to:
• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
• Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
• Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

I am a minor can I use crest advanced white stripes?

Question: I am a minor with yellowish looking teeth. I hate to smile because I do not have white teeth and my mom will not pay to have my teeth whiten at the dentist. I also ask to use whiten strips but she says she was told they can make your teeth sensitive and would prefer for me not too. Is that true? And can I still buy them if I am a minor.

Answer: Your mother is correct. Whiten strips can make your teeth sensitive. You may wish to find a product that has a lower dosage, or use them for a shorter time. If you find your teeth are getting sensitive to the strips you may wish to stop treatment for a while.

However that being said, it is still something your mother would need to approve of before you go ahead and use any whiten strips. Maybe ask your mother if you can first start off with using a toothpaste product with whiten. I not addressing weather or not you can still buy them since I would suggest not going behind your mother back and do what she told you no to already.