According to one recent study, about 58.8% of all Canadians have at least one decayed tooth in their mouth right now. While it's true that this is much, much better than the 96.6% number found in 2010, it's still clear that there is work to be done.

This is part of the reason why you need to make sure your dental routine is working for you. It seems simple, but there are some important questions to ask yourself:

  • Do you brush or floss first?
  • How often should you floss at all?
  • Do you know how to brush your teeth in the recommended way?

The answers to questions like these are straightforward, but they do require you to keep a number of important things in mind.

Building the Perfect Dental Routine, One Step at a Time

Experts agree that the answer to the question "do you brush or floss first?" is actually pretty straightforward.

An ideal dental routine involves both brushing and flossing - and that flossing should always come first. This is because if you don't floss and only brush, you're actually missing more than 1/3rd of the surface of each tooth. Plaque can begin to harden and turn into tartar in as little as 24 to 36 hours.

Step-by-Step Guide to Flossing:

 

  1. Prepare a length of floss that is around the same length from your hand to your shoulder. Wrap the floss around one finger on each hand, making sure it‘s tight. Ideally, there should be about two inches of floss between each of your hands.
  2. Slide that floss between two of your teeth and gently wipe from the base to the tip. Do this two or three times before moving onto the next tooth.
  3. While you're doing that, be sure to get the back of your molars. This is a part of the mouth that a lot of people forget about, but it's also unfortunately a place where particles tend to build up and sit for extended periods of time.

 

How often should you floss? Most people find flossing and brushing together a good way to get the job done.

How to Brush Your Teeth

 

  1. Prepare your brush and toothpaste and begin by moving at a 45-degree angle around your teeth. The key is to make sure that the bristles are pointed directly at the point where your gums and teeth meet.
  2. Brush in a gentle, circular motion. Don't use too much force or you may hurt your gums. Many people don't realize that receding gums aren't something that begins overnight. They're typically the result of many years of brushing your teeth with too much force.
    • It is absolutely recommended that you brush your gums but do so gently. Note that this doesn't mean you can't be thorough because you can and should be. It's just that you have to proceed with caution.
  3. As you brush your teeth, don't rush to get the job done. You should clean every portion of every tooth. Not just the ones you can see, but also the chewing surface, and even the side of your tongue.

The entire brushing process should take at least two to three minutes to complete. Brush when you wake up in the morning, after every meal, and before you go to bed at night for the best results.

Your Ideal Dental Routine Begins with Coverage from GMS

 

At GMS, we're proud to offer a wide range of dental coverage options in an effort to help in any and all ways that we can. This is even one of the major advantages of our Replacement Health Plan, allowing anyone who may be leaving their employer's benefits plan to maintain uninterrupted coverage at all times.

If you determine that our Personal Health Plan is a more appropriate choice given your needs, you can rest easy knowing that dental coverage can be added onto not only the BasicPlan, but to our ExtendaPlan and OmniPlan as well.

GMS is dedicated to helping provide you with the coverage you need that includes cleanings, x-rays, fillings, polishing, dentures, bridges, crowns, and more - all so that you can enjoy the terrific oral health you've always wanted for yourself.

Contact the GMS team today to learn more!