Why do we brush our teeth

We brush our teeth to remove plaque, the white sticky substance that builds up on our teeth, especially near the gum. Plaque contains millions of bacteria and if it is not thoroughly removed every 24 hours, it calcifies and becomes a hard deposit called tartar. Plaque and tartar make the gums inflamed.

Healthy gums are pale pink and firm. Unhealthy gums are dark pink, bleed easily and may be tender. Eventually they may cause you to loose your teeth.

Brushing

To keep your gums healthy: EVERY DAY:

• Clean your teeth twice a day (or at least once)

• Brush each tooth effectively using a small circular motion

• Brush ALL surfaces of your teeth

• Use a toothbrush with a small head and medium bristles

• Use a fluoride toothpaste

• Clean between teeth with a small brush or floss (see flossing below)

Change your toothbrush at least every 3 months, including electric toothbrush heads.

If your gums bleed when brushing, brush more and brush better!

Visit your dentist regularly so that we can monitor your gums. We may need to see you more frequently for your gums not your teeth. Ask your dentist or our Oral Health Educator about brushing and flossing techniques

Sometimes jargon gets the better of us, so please tell us if we haven't made sense. 

Flossing

Ideally, you should floss once a day, but we're not all perfect - some flossing is better than none.

This is the technique as shown at the practice:

• Break off a length of floss, about 40cm long.

• Wind floss around your middle fingers, leaving a short length free between them.

• Tension the short length between thumbs and forefingers.

• Place the floss between two teeth and move it towards the gum until you hear it click.

• Move the floss into the gum as far as it will go with gentle pressure.

• Move the floss up and down the tooth surface on one side of the space, then repeat on the other side. Remove.

• Wind on to a clean length of floss and repeat between the other teeth.

Don't worry if your gums bleed to begin with, regular flossing should soon help to overcome this problem.

For further information see the British Dental Health Foundation's leaflet Preventive care and oral hygene