a small toothbrush with soft,rounded bristles. Replace your brush
every two to three months, or as
soon as the bristles get droopy. Bent
bristles won’t clean your teeth prop-
erly, and they can harm your gums.
Daily Duty
Plaque is a gooey bacterial film that
forms on your teeth. It can cause
cavities and gum disease. Attack
plaque! Brush your teeth first thing
in the morning and at bedtime. Try
to brush after eating, too. Pack a
toothbrush in your backpack and
slumber party kit so you won’t be
tempted to skip. Do it every day,
the right way. No fair just swishing
the toothpaste around a little!
Correct brushing takes minutes,
not seconds.
Tickle Your Tongue
Don’t forget to brush your tongue,
too! Freshly scrubbed taste buds are
an important part of a clean mouth
and fresh breath.
How to Brush
1.Hold your toothbrush at an
angle to your gum line. Brush back
and forth in small strokes, one
tooth at a time. Repeat until
you’ve scrubbed every single
tooth.
2.Now do the back of each
tooth, using the same back-and-
forth motion. Make sure to brush
right up to the gum line.
3.Use the tip of the brush to
get behind your top and bottom
front teeth.
How to Floss
1. Pull off a strand of floss
about 18 inches long. Wind
most of it around the middle
finger of one hand, and the rest
around the middle finger of the
other.
2. Grip the floss between
your thumbs and forefingers,
stretching it tight. Push the
floss gently between two of
your teeth, wiggling it up and
down the sides of both teeth
and under the gum line. Imagine
yourself scooping out little bits
of food.
3. Unwind a little clean floss,
winding up the used floss as
you do so. Floss between two
more teeth. Keep going, wind-
ing and flossing, until you’ve
cleaned between all your teeth.
Don’t forget to floss at the very
end of each row, behind your
last tooth.
Healthy Gums
Think pink! Your gums need just as much attention as
your teeth. If you don’t take care of your gums, you could
be setting yourself up for gingivitis—a disease that causes
painful, red, swollen gums. To prevent gingivitis, floss once
a day to fish out food lurking along the gum line. Dental
floss comes in different thicknesses, waxed and unwaxed,
to slide between your teeth comfortably. It even comes in
tasty flavors!
Fresh Breath
Halitosis is a fancy way of saying “bad breath.” But no
matter what you call it, nothing shouts “Stand back!”
quite as loudly. In rare cases mouth odor is caused by a
nasal infection, upset stomach, or other problem that
may need a doctor’s attention. But it may just be a sign
that you’re skimping on brushing and flossing. Food
between your teeth can rot and stink just like garbage.
Clean it out!
Smile and Say “Calcium”!
For strong chompers, eat foods high in calcium, a mineral
that helps toughen up teeth. You can find calcium in
dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well
as in non-dairy foods such as green leafy vegetables, black
beans, and orange-colored fruits. A balanced, healthy diet
that limits gooey, chewy, sticky snacks is the smartest
choice.
Regular Visits
Does going to the dentist make your
teeth chatter? You’ll be less afraid if
you know what to expect. Before the
exam,
