Some Tips to Help You Floss More Effectively

1. Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.

2. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth, using a gentle rubbing motion. To avoid injuring your gums, never snap the floss into the gums.

3. When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.

4. Hold the floss slightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.

5. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don't forget the back side of your last tooth.

Basic Dental Care: Brushing

Unless your dentists recommends otherwise, use a brush with soft, end-rounded bristles. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth, allowing you to reach all areas easily. Worn-out toothbrushes cannot clean your teeth well and may injure your gums. Usually toothbrushes need to be replaced every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles become worn or frayed. Use toothpaste that contains fluoride, which helps protect your tooth from decay.

It's important to clean between the teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaners, too. They remove plaque from between the teeth - areas where the toothbrush can't reach- and are essential in helping to prevent gum disease.

When choosing a dental product, look for American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, an important symbol of a dental product's safety and effectiveness.

By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting your dentist regularly, you can help keep your mouth healthy and your smile attractive throughout your life.

This hormonal increase exaggerates the way that gum tissues react to the irritants in plaque. The important thing to remember is that plaque, not fluctuating hormone levels, is the major cause of gum disease. Even though hormone changes are occurring, you can prevent gingivitis by keeping your teeth clean, especially near the gumline. Thoroughly brush and floss your teeth daily to remove plaque, and eat a balanced diet to help keep your gums healthy.

Nutrition

What you eat during pregnancy affects the development of your unborn child's teeth. Your baby's teeth begin to develop between the third and sixth months of pregnancy, so it important that you receive sufficient amounts of nutrients - especially vitamins A, C, and D, protein, calcium, and phosphorus.

It is a myth that calcium is lost from the mother's teeth during pregnancy. The calcium your baby needs is provided by your diet, not by your teeth. If dietary calcium is inadequate, however, your body will provide this mineral from stores in your bones. An adequate intake of dairy products - the primary sources of calcium - or the supplements your obstetrician may recommend will ensure that you get all the calcium you need during pregnancy.

Eating a balanced diet is necessary to provide the correct amounts of nutrients to nourish both you and your child. A recommended daily diet for a pregnant woman usually includes the following foods:

3 servings of foods such as milk, cheese or yogurt
2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry or fish
6 or more servings of breads of breads, cereals and other grain products
3 or more servings of vegetables
2 or more servings or fruits

Following your physician's advice regarding your diet is your wisest course.

During pregnancy, many women have the desire to eat between meals. While this is perfectly normal, frequent snacking on foods rich in fermentable carbohydrates can be an invitation to acid attacks and the resultant tooth decay. The longer sugars are retained in your mouth, the longer the acids attack. Some research indicates that certain foods, such as cheese, peanuts, or sugar-free chewing gum may help to counter the effects of acid attacks. One way to avoid this is to clean your teeth after snacking.

Birth to Six
The front four teeth begin to appear when a baby is between the ages of six months and one year. Some babies experience pain while teething. To prevent baby bottle tooth decay put only water in bottles at naptime and wipe an infant's gums with a clean, damp cloth after feeding. As soon as teeth can be seen they need to be brushed.

Primary Teeth
Most children have a full set of twenty primary teeth by the age of three. Therefore, children should start having their teeth cleaned at age three. The decay in primary teeth can damage erupting permanent teeth. Primary teeth are just as important as permanent teeth. Primary teeth aid in chewing, speaking, appearance, and they hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth. Sometimes a primary tooth is lost before the permanenet tooth is ready to erupt. If the primary teeth are lost too early, other teeth can move into the space not leaving enough room for permanent teeth. To avoid these problems a space maintainer may be recommended.

Six to Twelve
From the ages of six to twelve, primary teeth begin to be replaced with permanent teeth. To prevent decay in permanent teeth a sealant can be placed on the tooth. Regular dental visits are also important in preventing decay.