How to Brush and Floss
The Reverend Ellison after Rembrandt
Reprinted from the American Academy of Periodontology website.
Use floss that is 18 inches long. Wind most of the floss around your middle finger and the remainder around a middle finger of the opposite hand. Gently insert the floss between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion, guiding the floss with your forefingers. Guide the floss to the gumline and curve the floss into a C-shape. Slide it into the space between the gum and tooth until you feel light resistance. Repeat this process between every tooth and don’t forget the back sides of your back teeth.
Begin brushing your teeth by cleaning all outside surfaces with your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times. Apply light pressure to get the bristles between the teeth. Use this same method on the inside of the back teeth. When cleaning the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth and its surrounding gum tissue. To clean the biting surfaces, use short gentle strokes. Do not forget to brush your tongue.