Pediatric Dentistry, LLC Parent Education

Flossing Effectively

To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:

• FIRST STEP: Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with
• SECOND STEP: Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth
• THIRD STEP: Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue
• FOURTH STEP: Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth
• FIFTH STEP: To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth

Brushing Effectively

Brush at least twice a day.

• FIRST STEP: Hold the toothbrush sideways against your teeth with some of the bristles touching your gums
• SECOND STEP: Tilt the brush so the bristles are pointing at your gum line
• THIRD STEP: Move the brush back and forth, using short strokes. The tips of the bristles should stay in one place, but the head of the brush should wiggle back and forth. You also can make tiny circles with the brush. This allows the bristles to slide gently under the gum. Do this for about 20 strokes or 20 circles. In healthy gums, this type of brushing should cause no pain. If it hurts, brush more gently
• FOURTH STEP: Roll or flick the brush so that the bristles move out from under the gum toward the biting edge of the tooth. This helps move the plaque out from under the gum line
• FIFTH STEP: Repeat for every tooth, on the insides and outsides
• SIXTH STEP: On the insides of your front teeth, it can be hard to hold the brush sideways. So hold it vertically instead. Use the same gentle back-and-forth or circular brushing action. Finish with a roll or flick of the brush toward the biting edge
• SEVENTH STEP: To clean the biting or chewing surfaces of the teeth, hold the brush so the bristles are straight down on those surfaces
• EIGHTH STEP: Gently move the brush back and forth or in tiny circles to clean the entire surface. Move to a new tooth or area until all teeth are cleaned
• NINTH STEP: Rinse with water
• TENTH STEP: You can clear even more bacteria out of your mouth by brushing your tongue. Brush firmly but gently from back to front. Do not go so far back in your mouth that you gag, rinse again

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