• Brush your teeth gently using short strokes. Apply just enough pressure to feel the bristles against the gums.
• Replace your toothbrush around two to three months or when the bristles are worn. A worn-out toothbrush may injure your gums. Replace your toothbrush after you’ve had a cold.
• Be sure to reach every tooth. Move the toothbrush around so as to clean all the teeth.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste
• Avoid toothbrushes with hard bristles, which can damage your gums. Use a toothbrush with soft, rounded bristles.
• Ask your dentist to recommend the type of toothbrush that would work best for you.

Have you ever heard of the “three-three” rule? My father used to remind me about this all the time and every member of the family is a strict follower of this rule.

So what is the three-three rule? It is a simple rule which states that you should devote at least 3 minutes 3 times a day to oral hygiene in maintain good health. This popular rule among dentists is non-negotiable and there should be no ifs and or buts about it. Following the rule is good for you and your teeth. You should give them the attention that they truly need from you.

Brushing means cleaning not only your teeth but also your tongue and gums. It is good that you do concentrate when you do this activity and have it thoroughly cleaned. It is advisable that you brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth the next time your teeth. Are you aware that this can help increase the blood circulation around the tissues in your mouth and may help minimize the amount of bacteria present? Those who are prone to tartar build-up should use a tartar control toothpaste. Just don’t forget to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance or Recognition when shopping around for one. Happy Brushing!

Conservative procedures such as scaling and root planning are effective methods to control infections and could facilitate natural healing. Scaling removes the plaque and tartar below the gum line. Local anesthesia numbs the area to be treated. Root planning procedure removes the rough spots on the tooth’s root to help remove the bacteria. This allows the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth. If the damage is too severe and the area is infected, surgery is usually recommended. This reshapes the damaged support structure around the tooth to eliminate the pockets. Prescription drugs maybe used with the treatment but cannot substitute for the surgery.

Eat nutritious foods. What your child eats, and how often they eat, has a dramatic impact on their oral and overall health. Consuming foods high in sugar or starch feed the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Promote healthy eating habits in childhood and teen years to promote optimal health, growth and intellectual development into adulthood.

Flossing is such an easy thing to do, but so hard to accomplish. Do you agree with me?

Flossing is one of the most important oral ritual that we must accomplish everyday yet some of us don’t even know how to properly do it.

First, cut a section of the dental floss. Take the floss and wrap one end around your middle finger of each hand. You will then use your index fingers to manipulate the floss. Slide the floss between your teeth all the way down to the gum line . Repeat this step on the next tooth. Pull the floss out and repeat this process between all of your teeth changing to a new clean section of floss as you go on and on. That’s it! We’re done!

Ways to examine or clean the child’s teeth:

Sit on the floor or the sofa with the child’s head on your lap. This will help you to see clearly both the top and bottom of the child’s back teeth.
Take a piece of gauze and use it to hold the tip of the child’s tongue. You can move the tongue from left to right to get a look at the teeth.
Use a flashlight and hold the tongue down with a spoon.
To open the child’s mouth, slide your forefinger along the inside of the cheek and press down behind the last bottom.

Have you heard of the popular belief on brushing? Some old folks claims that using toothbrushes with hard bristles and applying to much pressure while brushing will give you a cleaner and better teeth. That information is oh so wrong! Do you really want o torture your teeth?

Following that infamous belief can cause damage to the teeth enamel. Not only that, you will also give your precious gums a hard time too. You don’t want to feel too much pain, right?

Next time, see to it that you use a toothbrush with soft bristles and another reminder – don’t push it too hard! Don’t be a saddist!

Untreated gingivitis usually becomes periodontitis, a condition wherein the gums are pulling away from the teeth forming pockets that become infected with bacteria. As the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line, our body’s immune system tries to fight this infection. When the body enzymes react, this causes the supporting bones and connective tissues to break down and eventually loosens the teeth. Most of the time, the symptoms of periodontal disease go unnoticed until it reaches the advanced condition. Some visible signs of periodontal disease are: persistent bad breath, red swollen, and bleeding gums, pain when chewing, and loose and sensitive teeth.

You know that you have to brush your teeth at least three times a day. You’re at home doing nothing and you’re not even going out so why should you brush your teeth? Why do you even need to floss it?

Brushing and flossing might be two of the most boring activities ever in your everyday life and it may just be the reason why a lot of people (especially the teens –admit it!) spend less time doing it. To be able to neglect the boredom out of brushing, why don’t you try to brush without toothpaste? By doing so, you’ll be able to brush your teeth and at the same time perform your scheduled task.

You think I’m kidding? Not this time!