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at The Oasis Family Dental provide multiple specialties under one roof. This includes orthodontics, prosthodontics, dental exams, and education on the importance of dental hygiene. As your dental care providers, we will always explain why caring for the health of your teeth and gums is imperative. Let’s get back to basics and explain to you how to perfectly execute the fundamentals of oral hygiene.

Floss Before your Brush

Flossing is an important part of your daily dental hygiene routine, and many people don’t realize it should be done before you brush. This removes debris and bacteria from between your teeth and keeps particles from sitting on the surfaces of your smile. To floss your teeth properly, follow these steps:

Step 1: Remove about 18 inches of floss from the container.

Step 2: Wrap the floss around both of your middle fingers, leaving a few inches in between for you to floss your teeth with.

Step 3: Grab the slack floss between your thumbs and index fingers. Place the floss behind the last tooth on one side of your upper or lower dental arch.

Step 4: Curve a “C” shape around each side of your teeth, taking care to gently clean below the gumline on each side of the tooth.

Step 5: Make sure to use a clean section of floss each time you move to a new tooth.

Step 6: Repeat these steps until both dental arches have been completely flossed.

Brush Teeth at Least Twice a Day

You should thoroughly brush your teeth at least twice each day—after waking up in the morning and before going to bed at night. To properly brush your teeth, follow these steps.

Step 1: Place the bristles of the brush along the gum line at a 45-degree angle. The bristles should come in contact with the tooth surface and your gum tissues.

Step 2: Gently brush the outer surfaces of teeth by using small, back-and-forth circular motions. Once you have finished, move the brush to the next group of teeth.

Step 3: Maintain a 45-degree angle, with the bristles contacting the tooth surface and gumline. This time, brush the inside surfaces of the teeth.

Step 4: Tilt the brush vertically behind the front teeth, and brush in an up-and-down motion.

Step 5: Place the brush against the biting surfaces of the teeth, and use a gentle back-and-forth motion to clean.

Step 6: Brush the tongue from front to back.

Visit your Temecula Dentists

If you need help mastering your dental hygiene routine, we’ll be happy to demonstrate how to properly care for your smile at your next dental appointment at Oasis Family Dental. To reserve an appointment, call (951) 695-2290.