Dental care
Learning Center
Caregiver stress: Tips for taking care of yourself
Fight caregiver stress and prevent burnout by taking time to take care of yourself.
Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health
Friendships can have a major impact on your health and well-being. Follow these tips to make and sustain lasting friendships.
Cancer survivors: Late effects of cancer treatment
Find out what side effects to watch for after cancer treatment so you can prepare yourself for any challenges ahead.
Depression: Supporting a family member or friend
Show support to relatives or friends with depression. Learn the symptoms, help them cope and urge them to seek help. Learn about the risk of suicide.
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.
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.
Cancer survivors: Managing your emotions after cancer treatment
Feeling mixed emotions now that your cancer treatment is over? Use these strategies to help heal your mind and adjust to life as a cancer survivor.
Oral health: A window to your overall health
Find out about the connection between your oral health and overall health.
Does flossing really make a difference?
Yes. You can't reach the bacteria in tight spaces between your teeth and under the gum line with a toothbrush. Aim to floss daily. If you find it hard to handle floss, use 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. As long as you do a thorough job, it doesn't matter if you brush or floss first.
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