Brush and Floss for Healthy Gums!

Patient Page from the American Academy of Periodontology Brush and Floss for Healthy Gums! One of the easiest ways to help prevent How to Floss gum disease is to brush and floss every Using about 18 inches of floss, wrap the day, so therefore it is very important to floss around your middle finger. Wrap know the correct way to take care of the rest around your other middle finger, your teeth and gums. It does not matter leaving 2-3 inches of floss between your if you brush first or floss first, as long as fingers. While tightly holding the floss you do both (twice a day!). between your thumbs, insert it between two teeth. Curve the floss into a “C” Equipment shape against the tooth, and gently The most commonly used toothbrush is slide it up and down. Then, with the the manual toothbrush. Another option is floss still in between the two teeth, the electric toothbrush, which uses switch the “C” shape against the electrical power to move the brush head. adjacent tooth, and repeat the sliding Don’t Forget The resulting vibrations that are created motion. Move to the next tooth over, your Checkup! gently clean the teeth. It is important to and repeat the process, unwrapping always choose a soft brush head when fresh floss from your middle finger as Daily brushing and flossing is one of using either a manual or electric tooth- you go. the best ways to help prevent gum brush, and to replace the toothbrush disease because it keeps the forma- tion of bacteria-rich plaque to a when the bristles begin to bend (or every For more information on brushing and minimum. However, you should be two to three months). flossing techniques, to learn other ways sure to visit a dental health to prevent gum disease, or to find a professional, such as a periodontist, at According to a recent study in the periodontist in your area, visit perio.org. least twice a year to have your teeth Journal of Periodontology1, all dental professionally cleaned and to screen flosses are equally effective. This means for signs of periodontal disease. that it does not matter which type of floss 1G Terézhalmy, R Bartizek, A Biesbrock. you choose to use. There are many Plaque-Removal Efficacy of Four Types Money may be tight in the current different varieties of floss, including of Dental Floss. Journal of Periodontol- economy, but preventing gum disease waxed, unwaxed, flavored, and shred- ogy. February 2008, Vol. 79, No. 2, can be less expensive than treating 2 resistant, so there is a type of floss out Pages 245-251 gum disease. Additionally, research has found that people with gum there for everyone! 2R Ide, T Hoshuyama, K Takahashi. disease can have higher health care The Effect of Periodontal Disease on costs than people without gum How to Brush Medical and Dental Costs in a disease! Take the time now to Position the toothbrush at a 45 degree Middle-Aged Japanese Population: A regularly brush and floss to help angle where your gums and teeth meet. Longitudinal Worksite Study. Journal of prevent gum disease and avoid While applying slight pressure, gently higher health care costs! Periodontology. November 2007, Vol. move the brush in a circular motion 78, No. 11, Pages 2120-2126 using short strokes. Use this method to clean the front of your teeth, then move to the back of your teeth, then the biting surfaces, and then your tongue, using the same gentle movements. Be sure you are constantly moving the brush head to avoid damaging your gums! The American Academy of Periodontology Patient Page is a public service of the AAP and should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of your personal periodontist. There may be variations in treatment that your periodontist will recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Visit perio.org to assess your risk and for more information on periodontal disease. AAP Patient Page.

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