If you’ve recently had your teeth brightened with teeth whitening, then you’re probably pretty proud of your new results. What can you do to make sure those results last for longer periods? With the right steps, you can help your smile remain brighter for longer. Will brushing and flossing brighten your smile?
Brighten Your Smile with Brushing and Flossing
- True or False: Brushing your teeth helps remove plaque.
- True or False: You should use a brush with soft bristles.
- True or False: You need to floss every day.
- True or False: Flossing helps prevent cavities and gum disease.
Answer Key
- True. When you brush your teeth twice a day, the bristles remove plaque buildup from the surface of the teeth. While a toothbrush can’t remove all traces of plaque, it can help control the severity of the buildup between cleaning visits. By removing plaque, you help your teeth stay bright as the buildup can make stains more apparent.
- True. We suggest soft bristles as brushing too hard with medium or hard bristles can potentially damage tooth enamel.
- True. You should floss every night before going to bed. Take the floss tape (or pick if you prefer) and gentle floss up and down either side of every tooth. You want to be thorough and remove all food particles that may be caught between the teeth.
- True. A toothbrush can’t reach the food parties caught between teeth, which can allow bacteria to break them down and increase the risk of plaque buildup. However, floss can help remove these particles can protect your smile from cavities and gum inflammation, both of which can develop as a result of plaque buildup. If you have any questions about brushing and flossing, then please contact our office today.
