Does flossing really help?
612137
Yes!  Proper flossing removes plaque from under the gum line, helping to prevent a plethora of tooth and gum problems.  But you have to make sure you are doing it right in order to get the full benefits.  Instead of just having the floss go straight up and stop at your gum, you should pull the floss to the side, so that it is kind of wrapped around the side of your tooth, so the floss is able to slide up under your gum line.
777332
It will help!\nBrush your tongue also...it's like a big sponge for liquids, germs and ODOR.
214428
You should be flossing at least once a day.  It will catch up with you in the end if you do not.  You would be amazed how many people go well into adulthood with straight white teeth and no cavities and then end up losing all of their teeth due to bone loss caused by periodontal disease becaues they did not floss.  An old and very true saying is "only floss the teeth you want to keep"!
1165907
Limited effect.  It will make your teeth a few shades lighter but there is a limit.  If you need serious bleaching, see your dentist.  There is also such a thing as brushing too often.
200275
You're going to have to brush.. and floss!  But only do that if you intend on keeping your teeth.  It would also be a good idea to see your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and exam.
191629
that sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. I do know that floride in the water is a problem in the US. although florine does minimize tooth decay, it also causes flourisis (spelling). and the way flouride is produced is absolutley disgusting.\n\nto cut a long story short; florine in tap water is useless in our modern society.
185592
Making sure to brush properly and on a regular basis..2-3 times per day using a soft toothbrush... flossing at least once perday and seeing your dentist every 6 months for a regular cleaning and exam.  Most people are not aware that they can brush every day and go their entire lives with no cavities and still lose all of their teeth to periodontal disease due to not flossing.  I cannot stress the importance of flossing enough!!!!
168471
No it does not. Brushing makes your teeth whiter.\n\n       -I know this because my dads a Dentist
435579
The more expensive the product, the better it is going to be.  So, starting with the cheapest, is brushing twice a day and flossing.  The cleaner your teeth are, the whiter they are going to be.  Stay away from coffee, tea, and red wine.  Then there's whitening toothpastes, floss, and rinses.  These will give results, but not as much as whitening stips or gels.  I know a lot of people who have been satisfied with Crest Whitening Strips.  Just be careful using whitening products, because they can cause sensitivity.  So, if you already have sensitive teeth, be aware.  Many electric toothbrushes claim to make teeth whiter.  I use the Sonicare brush, and I can tell a difference.  But it's not a dramatic difference.  I notice it, but I don't know if others do.  I know the Crest Spin Brush has one with brusheads that claim to whiten teeth.  If you're looking for a real big difference in shades, then you may want to try the strips.  It seems to be the biggest improvement for the cheapest.
39875
Oral B is the market leader in electric toothbrushes. I recently bought the "Triumph" model, and it seems to clean better than any toothbrush I had before. \nRemember that brushing is not enough. The best toothbrush cannot replace flossing. You have to brush and floss to really clean your teeth. Probably any electric toothbrush together with flossing once a day regularly is better than the best electric toothbrush alone.
1174567
keeping your mouth clean - brushing, flossing and rinsing is good but i would avoid mouth washes just in case thats part of the problem. stay away from high acidic drinks or if you do- rinse your mouth with water--- its hard to avoid mouth ulcers if you are prone to them and using the meds that your dentist prescribed will help
757996
No.  Actually baking soda is good for your teeth.  It helps keep it clean and bright.  It would be wise to use a fluoride rinse afterwords if you are only going to use baking soda alone and don't forget to floss daily to get the food and plaque hiding in between the teeth.
196779
Dental Student:\nYou pretty much need to floss and brush your teeth. But to have healthy gums too you really need to focus on your technique. \n\nBrushing:\nWhen brushing (soft bristle only, the harder ones tend to wear away your gums) hold the bristles at a 45 degree angle, directed around the gum line, and jiggle the tips in a circular motion. This will get rid of the dental plaque (yellow deposits filled with bacteria) that tends to accumulate in these areas. Remember to do this to the front and back of all teeth. \n\nFlossing:\nToothbrush bristles are way too big to fit in between your teeth, which is why we use dental floss. Take about 30cm of floss and wind them around your middle fingers...now use your thumb and forefinger to control a small section of floss. Use this to slide in between each and every tooth to get rid of the plaque. Ensure you not only slide against the tooth but you also have to depress a little into the gums (2-3mm). It's a little tricky at first so you may need to do this in front of the mirror. It also takes most of us about 4-5 minutes to get right the first time, but with lots of practice, you should be able to complete it within 1 minute.\n\nRinsing:\nNot really recommended normally for healthier gums. The supermarket ones kill the oral bacteria, but they tend to come back again, so there's really no point unless you just want fresh breath...\n\nFinal advice:\nYou may bleed to begin with, but if you continue with this ritual every night, you'll find that you will stop bleeding within 1 week. It's because you're giving the gums a chance to recover from the irritation caused by the constant bacterial load, and this takes about a week for the gums to recover.\n\nSo remember: brush twice daily with a soft bristle brush (ensure it's nice and new - it should be changed every 3 months at least). The most important brush is the nighttime one, just before you sleep. So this is also the ideal time to floss as well.\n\nThis may be difficult because of various reasons such as tartar (hardened plaque) that is stuck to your teeth, so you may need to see a dentist/hygienist to get rid of them first. This sort of cleaning may also be complicated if you have a medical problem such as prolonged bleeding. So your dentist may need to help you modify your cleaning method. Anyway, once all this is cleaned up you should be all ready to keep your gums all healthy and strong! In truth, the real difficulty is in keeping motivated to do this everyday. Just keep thinking that healthy gums, means good support for your teeth, which means your teeth will be less likely to simply fall out when you get older... Good luck! Hope this answers your question...
900291
As long as you oral hygiene is good, you don't have to worry much. In the absence of certain medicines, smoking, tea, coffee, curry, etc. it is a slow process. If your concern is based on esthetics, then better start looking for affordable teeth whitening system/product to address it.
881315
Floss your teeth every day, too.  Once every 24 hours is enough.  Flossing gets the crud a brush can't reach, and that crud supports bacteria that can give you bad breath.
554153
Yup. They're called disclosing tablets. Ask your dentist if he has any... he may, and if so, he'll probably just give them to you.\nI have more than I know what to do with...\n\n\n**********************************************************\nTo Nebula D\n\nThis person didn't ask anything more than what they're called. I assume, since this person knows about them, that they have received OHI. And, since I'm not looking in their mouth, I can't really tell where they need to improve. But, thanks for telling them to brush and floss. I'm sure they had no idea.\nPLEASE find someone else to pick on and leave me alone.\nPS: Plax isn't a fluoride rinse. Sorry that a hygienist had to point that one out to you...
583594
They do tend to make your teeth more sensitive.