Keeping clean in between your teeth: a quick guide

Brush your teeth- twice a day for at least two minutes.

Clean in between teeth daily before brushing; morning or night.

Bleeding gums may be a sign of gum disease and should stop after a few days of regular interdental cleaning. If bleding persists, consult your dentist.

Stick to your inter-dental cleaning plan- ask your dentist to identify the relevant areas in your mouth in a diagram.

Start early, start right— a quick guide:

Your child’s first dental visit should be between the eruption of the first tooth and his or her first birthday.

Brush your children’s teeth until they are around three years old, then start encouraging them to join in. Supervise their brushing until age eight.

Children under age four should use a simple brushing technique—such as a small , circular brushing motion.

Choose a children’s toothbrush with a small brushhead and soft bristles.

Use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Teach your child to rinse and spit out any toothpaste left after brushing.

Flossing should start when two teeth touch and supervision is needed until at least the age of 10.