Brushing and flossing remove plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on teeth every day. If plaque stays on teeth, bacteria can use sugars from food to make acids that weaken enamel and lead to cavities. Plaque near the gums can also irritate gum tissue and cause swelling, bleeding, or early gum disease.
Good daily care helps keep teeth strong, gums healthy, and breath fresher.
Key Facts
- Brush teeth 2 times each day for 2 minutes each time.
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste for students old enough to spit it out.
- Hold the toothbrush at about a 45 degree angle toward the gumline.
- Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of every tooth with gentle small strokes.
- Floss 1 time each day to clean between teeth where toothbrush bristles cannot reach.
- Replace a toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
Vocabulary
- Plaque
- Plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria that forms on teeth and can cause cavities and gum irritation.
- Enamel
- Enamel is the hard outer layer of a tooth that protects it from wear and acid damage.
- Fluoride
- Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen enamel and makes teeth more resistant to cavities.
- Gumline
- The gumline is the edge where the gums meet the teeth and where plaque often collects.
- Floss
- Floss is a thin string used to clean plaque and food particles from between teeth.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Brushing too hard, because strong scrubbing can irritate gums and wear down enamel instead of cleaning better.
- Skipping the gumline, because plaque often collects where the tooth meets the gum and can lead to gum problems.
- Flossing by snapping the floss straight down, because this can hurt the gums and does not clean the tooth surface well.
- Rinsing with lots of water right after brushing, because it can wash away fluoride before it has time to protect the teeth.
Practice Questions
- 1 If you brush for 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes at night, how many total minutes do you brush in 7 days?
- 2 A student replaces a toothbrush every 3 months. How many toothbrushes does the student need for 1 year?
- 3 Explain why flossing is still important even if a person brushes carefully twice a day.