What's the Correct Way to Brush? 1. Place the head of the toothbrush next to your teeth, with the bristle tips at a 45-degree angle next to the gumline. 2. Move the brush back and forth in a small circular scrubbing motion. 3. Brush the outer surfaces of all teeth, upper and lower. Make sure you keep the bristles angled against your gumline.

4. Now brush the inside tooth surfaces, using the same brush strokes.

5. To reach the inside surfaces of your front teeth, tilt your brush vertically and use gentle, up-and-down strokes with the head of the brush.

6. Scrub the chewing surfaces of all back teeth. Brush the outer surfaces of all teeth, upper and lower. Make sure you keep the bristles angled against your gumline.

How Do I Remove Plaque by Flossing?
Plaque is a bacteria-laden white substance which forms on the teeth and contributes to tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. Effective flossing will help remove plaque missed by brushing before it contributes to these harmful effects.

Here's how to floss: 1. Use a piece of dental floss approximately 18 inches long. Wind each end of the floss around your middle fingers. 2. Holding the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers, leave about an inch of floss. Use a gentle, back and forth motion to guide the floss in between your teeth. Avoid snapping the floss, which may cause unnecessary irritation to the gums.

3. When the floss is at the gumline, curve it into an arc around each tooth until there is mild resistance.

4. Holding the floss in the arc position, gently slide it up the side of the tooth, making sure the floss goes under the gum. Move the floss up and down (not back and forth) several times to remove the plaque from under the gum.

5. Repeat this procedure on both sides of each tooth.