Brushing regularly and doing it correctly is critical to having healthy teeth. A toothbrush should have soft bristles, and you should replace it every 3 to 4 months, because old bristles don’t clean as well. Brush the sides, insides, and flats in a circular motion, holding the toothbrush at an angle at the gum line. Also, brush your tongue and the inside of your cheeks to help control bad breath.
Brush your teeth for 2 to 3 minutes, at least twice a day: once in the morning, and once before bed after you are finished eating for the day.
Flossing is also important and is a great habit to form as an adolescent to continue as an adult. Flossing helps keep your gums healthy. Flossing helps remove food stuck between teeth and can reduce bad breath.
During puberty, adult teeth will replace a boy’s baby teeth.
You should see a dentist for a checkup every six months. If you’re nervous about going, you can ask the dental hygienist exactly what will happen during your visit before they start. They will be glad to explain so that you will feel better about your visit. Some dental hygienists explain everything that will happen before it happens to help the patient feel secure.
