Brushing and Flossing


Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush the outside, inside and chewing surface of your entire front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.


  • In the morning after breakfast
  • After lunch or right after school
  • After dinner
  • At bedtime after flossing




Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, adapting the floss to the tooth surface. This will disrupt bacteria and remove plaque and food particles. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.


Remember, the teeth you brush first contact the most toothpaste on your brush. Each time you brush start brushing in a different area of your mouth so the same teeth don’t always have the initial impact of the paste. Never use a medium or hard tooth brush. They damage the enamel and root surface with erosion and abrasion, leaving the tooth surface rough and vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. Choose an ADA approved toothpaste.

The Riehl team will make further recommendations for other dental aids depending you’re your individual needs.