How to Take Care of Your Teeth and Gums

Brush your teeth twice a day. Use a toothpaste with fluoride.

How to Brush
Brush carefully for 2 or 3 minutes. Use a soft toothbrush. A hard toothbrush will hurt your gums. First brush the top of your teeth. Brush back and forth. Then brush the front and back of your teeth. Brush gently.

Start with two or three teeth. Hold the toothbrush against the teeth at the gum line. Move the brush in little circles at the gum line. Then brush another two or three teeth. Remember to brush behind your teeth. Move the toothbrush up and down. Brush at the gum line too.

Use floss to clean between your teeth. Choose a floss that is right for your teeth.

How to Floss
Floss once a day. Use about 45 centimetres (18 inches) of floss. Wind the ends of the floss around your middle fingers. Hold the floss with your middle fingers and thumbs.

Slide the floss between two teeth. Then move the floss up and down the side of each tooth a few times. The floss should go below the gum line. But be gentle.

Ask your dentist or hygienist how to brush and floss.

Background Information

Talk about how you take care of your teeth. Describe how you brush and floss your teeth. What kind of toothpaste do you use?

Questions

1. What does fluoride do?

2. How long should you brush your teeth?

3. Why would you use a soft toothbrush?

4. What two words make up the word toothbrush?

5. How many teeth should you start with?

6. How should you move the brush at the gum line?

. What kind of floss would be right for your teeth?

8. How often should you floss?

9. Why do you think flossing helps your teeth?

10. What's another word for wind as it's used in the story?