Oral Care Guide for Teens

In order to clean the teeth effectively, you have to thoroughly remove the dental plaque that adheres on the tooth surfaces, false teeth and orthodontic appliances. The accumulation of plaque will cause Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease.

Clean the tooth surfaces by toothbrushing

Toothbrushing can remove the dental plaque on tooth surfaces. We should brush our teeth in the morning and before bed at night everyday. Thorough removal of plaque can prevent Periodontal Disease.

Place the toothbrush at an angle towards the gingival margin

The head of the toothbrush should be placed with the tips of the bristles tilted at an angle towards the gingival (of the gum) sulcus at the gingival margin where plaque tends to accumulate.

Dental plaque accumulates in the sulcus

Place the tips of the bristles tilted at an angle towards the gingival margin

Brush the teeth systematically
	1.	Firstly, brush the outer surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. The head of the toothbrush should be placed with the tips of the bristles tilted at an angle towards the gingival margin. Gently move the toothbrush in small scrubbing motions, working on two to three teeth at one time.
	2.	Then brush the inner surfaces of teeth in the same way as brushing the outer surfaces.
	3.	When we brush the inner surfaces of front teeth, we should hold the toothbrush upright using gentle motion brushing from the gingival margin towards the crowns of the teeth.
	4.	Finally, brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth with the toothbrush moving backward and forward.

Video display: Toothbrushing method

Points to note

Even if you have grasped the toothbrushing technique, it is important to use appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste.

Toothbrushing cannot remove plaque from the adjacent tooth surfaces. They have to be cleaned by dental floss or floss holder.

The order of brushing and flossing does not affect the effectiveness of tooth cleaning. As long as we use the correct technique, we can achieve satisfactory results.

Solutions to common problems encountered during toothbrushing
	Areas that are hard to reach by a toothbrush are difficult to be cleaned by toothbrushing. For example, the inner surfaces of lower teeth or crooked teeth: The solution is to clean with a small head toothbrush or a single-tuft toothbrush.
	Gagging when brushing: Some people may gag when they brush their teeth. To improve this situation, you can choose to use a toothbrush with a small head.
	Gingivae bleeds and hurts when brushing: The accumulation of dental plaque causes gingival inflammation. In that case, the gingivae (gum) will bleed when brushing. You can choose to use a soft toothbrush to clean away the plaque in such areas. Gingival inflammation will slowly subside and the gingivae will become healthy when the oral hygiene has improved.