Dental Tips | Sunflower Family Dentistry | Thornhill, Scaborough, Ontario

Dental Tips

- Learn about how to protect your teeth!

How to Choose a right toothbrush?

A suitable toothbrush for you should be:

with soft bristles
small enough to move around inside your mouth
easy to grasp
replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months

How to brush your teeth properly?

floss before you brush
brush twice a day with 2 – 3 minutes each, especially before bedtime
use a soft toothbrush
moist your mouth before brushing
hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle
brush from gumline with gentle pressure towards the gum
gently vibrate or brush in circular motion along gumline—do not scrub
brush inside and outside of your teeth as well as your tongue
clean chewing surfaces with short sweeping strokes
ask your dentist to show you the proper brushing techniques

How to freshen your breath?

brush twice daily and after eating if possible
floss once a day
keep your gum healthy
avoid certain foods that cause bad breath
keep your mouth moist
avoid smoking
some other medical conditions may cause bad breath
tell your dentist if bad breath persists

How to prevent gum disease?

floss and brush twice daily
brush with toothpaste that contains fluoride
use toothbrush with soft bristles
healthy diet
avoid smoking
regular dental examination and hygiene treatment

How to maintain strong teeth?

have a balanced diet
healthy food
smart snacks (e.g. carrot sticks, cheese, peanut butter, plain yogurt etc.)
healthy diet
avoid sugary food and drinks & acidic drinks
regular dental examination and hygiene treatment

Did you know that Tooth Decay:

is an infectious disease
can be transmitted by sharing utensils
is most severe in children
is preventable in most cases

If sweets are not avoidable:

eat it at mealtimes since more saliva will produce when eating meals and it can
protect your teeth
choose sweets with less sugar instead
avoid sticky sweets
shorten the length of time for your teeth to expose to sweets