Dental care
Learning Center
Oral health: A window to your overall health
Find out about the connection between your oral health and overall health.
Sensitive teeth: What treatments are available?
Know what causes sensitive teeth and effective treatments.
When to brush your teeth
When should you brush your teeth? Understand how to protect your oral health.
Whitening toothpaste: Does it whiten teeth?
Find out how whitening toothpaste works and whether it's effective.
Dental floss vs. water flosser: Which is better?
Cleaning between your teeth every day is an important part of good oral health.
Want whiter teeth?
If your pearly whites are dulled by surface stains, whitening toothpaste can appear to whiten teeth slightly. Whitening toothpaste can't change the natural color of your teeth, however. For more noticeable results, ask your dentist about tooth-whitening bleaching products.
Brush up on how to brush your teeth
Are you brushing your teeth properly? Here's how to brush: Hold your toothbrush at a slight angle — aiming the bristles toward the area where your tooth meets your gum. Gently brush with circular short back-and-forth motions. Remember to brush the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth, as well as your tongue. Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush. Brush your teeth twice a day.
Tooth flossing 101
Flossing can help you remove the bacteria in the tight spaces between your teeth and under the gum line. Break off about 18 inches (46 centimeters) of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. Grip the floss between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth using a rubbing motion. When the floss reaches your gum line, curve it against one tooth. Use the floss to rub the side of the tooth in an up-and-down motion. Unwind fresh floss for your next tooth.
Toothpicks: For hors d'oeuvres, not teeth
Have something stuck in your teeth? Use a toothbrush, dental floss, or an interdental cleaner — such as a dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, tiny brushes that reach between teeth, a water flosser, or wooden or silicone wedge plaque remover. Save toothpicks for olives. If you use a toothpick to clean your teeth, you could injure your gums and let in bacteria.
Time to buy a new toothbrush?
Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months. Change it sooner if the bristles flay or become irregular.
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