About Dr. RubyBrushing
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small
strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your
teeth, move the brush in small circular motions
to reach food particles that may be under your gum
line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush
slowly and carefully, covering all areas between
teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take
you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth.
Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth
and the outside, inside and chewing surface of all
of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue
and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles and plaque:
- In the morning after breakfast
- After lunch or right after school
- After dinner
- At bedtime
As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to carefully floss and brush daily for optimal oral hygiene.
Flossing
For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush
can't reach, dental floss is used to remove food
particles and plaque. Dental floss is a thin thread
of waxed nylon that is used to reach below the
gum line and clean between teeth. It is very important
to floss between your teeth every day.
Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser.
Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your
middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth
to the gum line, pulling out any food particles
or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your
fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss
from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind
all of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are squeaky
clean before you go to bed. When you first begin
flossing, your gums may bleed a little. If the
bleeding does not go away after the first few
times, let a staff member know at your next appointment.
