Oral homecare
You can prevent tooth decay by taking care of your teeth at home.
The American Dental Association recommends that everybody brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day, floss once a day, rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse, eat a balanced diet, and visit a dentist regularly.
Brush your teeth
- Brushing should be done at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, once in the morning and once at night.
- Brush for at least two minutes each time with a soft-bristle toothbrush.
- Brushing can be done in 5 easy steps:
- Position your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums on the outer surfaces of your teeth.
- Move the toothbrush in short gentle strokes back and forth or in a circle in a massaging motion.
- Brush the outer and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
- Move your toothbrush to the inner surfaces and repeat the same movement.
- Finish by brushing your tongue
Floss your teeth
- Flossing reaches the parts of your mouth that your toothbrush can’t reach, by removing bacteria and food particles from between your teeth.
- Flossing needs to be done with the right technique:
- Cut a piece of floss about 18 inches in length.
- Wrap both ends around the middle finger on both hands, leaving about 2 inches of floss between your fingers.
- Hold floss with your thumb and index finger and push down between teeth.
- Form a “c” with the floss on the back tooth and go up and down along the surface of the tooth, then form a “c” with the floss on the front tooth and go up and down along the surface of that tooth.
- Repeat the above steps throughout the rest of the mouth.
Mouth rinses
- Mouth rinses are not used as an alternative to brushing and flossing, but they can be used to supplement brushing and flossing if you desire.
Balanced diet
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Limit the number of between-meal snacks you eat.
- Reduce consumption of sugar-filled foods and drinks such as: soft drinks, sweetened fruit drinks, candy, and cookies.
Visit your dentist
- Visit your dentist regularly to keep your mouth as healthy as possible.
- Your dentist will:
- Check your teeth and gums, and
- Make individualized treatment recommendations based on the findings:
- May include a professional cleaning with a dental hygienist,
- Personalized oral hygiene instructions, and
- A plan to repair teeth with cavities or to replace missing teeth.
- Book an appointment with a dentist today.
Where can you find a dentist?
You can also find a dentist that accepts Medicaid at https://medicaid.utah.gov.
Click the links below to download flyers containing this information.
Visit the websites below for supplemental materials.
Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Oral Health website
CDC provides leadership to improve the nation's oral health. They work to reduce the rate of cavities, develop and promote infection prevention and control guidelines for dental settings, integrate medical and dental care, conduct oral health-related research, partner with organizations that support the CDC mission, and support data collection efforts to help monitor the nation's oral health.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Oral Health Website
Problems with your teeth, gums, or other parts of the mouth can increase your risk of having some diseases or health conditions. Regular dental checkups can help you protect your mouth and teeth, promoting overall wellbeing at any age. HRSA can help you learn the best way to care for your mouth.
