Proper brushing takes at least two to three minutes. Most people do not come close to brushing that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a electric toothbrush with a timer or a stopwatch. To properly brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth, and areas around fillings, crowns or other restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:

• Clean the outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
• Clean the inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
• Clean the chewing surfaces then tilt the brush at a 45° angle against the gumline and roll the bristles away from the gumline.
• For a fresher breath, gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria , too.

How To Learn to Floss?

Proper flossing removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach, under the gumline and between your teeth. Because plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, daily flossing especially at night after brushing is highly recommended.

Flossing properly by following these basic steps:

• 1. Take about 30 centimetres of floss and loosely wrap most of it around each middle finger leaving 3 centimetres of floss between.
• 2. Gently slide it down between your teeth with your thumb and index fingers holding the floss taut. Be careful not to snap it down on your gums.
• 3. Curve the floss around each tooth in a “C” shape and gently move it up and down the sides of each tooth, including under the gum line. Unroll a new section of floss as your move from tooth to tooth.

Don’t worry if your gums bleed at first—this is quite common. After a few days of flossing, the bleeding should stop as their gums become healthier. But if the bleeding persists, consult your dentist.