National Dental Hygiene Month

It’s October, and that means its National Dental Hygiene Month. While most people know that brushing and flossing are essential to good health, they may be rusty in their technique. We at Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge thought the beginning of the holiday season would be an appropriate time to remind our patients.


From the time a baby’s first tooth begins to erupt, peoples’ teeth should be brushed twice a day. (People with removable dentures should also brush their gums.) People using manual toothbrushes should brush for two minutes each time. When brushing the fronts of the teeth, use a side-to-side motion, but don’t skip over the parts near the gum line. When brushing the backs, use a vertical motion with each tooth. Floss by sliding the strand all the way down each side of each tooth, including the backsides of the back teeth. Pull the strand up with a sweeping motion to catch more plaque.


A Waterpik is also an acceptable way of cleaning between teeth, but there are other means of improving your breath. You should consider using a tongue scraper on a daily basis to reduce your chance of inhaling harmful bacteria. You may also want to use mouthwash and chew sugar-free gum after meals.


Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91st St, Suite 1C, Brooklyn, New York, 11209. To schedule an appointment, visit Bernstein Dental Care or call 718-833-9191.

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