Summarize the following:
Brush your teeth twice daily. Also, try to floss once daily. If you neglect your teeth, you have a higher risk of developing tooth abscesses. If you constantly eat foods high in sugar (e.g. candy, chocolate), you can increase your risk for cavities. Cavities can lead eventually to abscesses. Some sugary foods are fine but eat them in moderation. If possible, brush afterwards. If you have an untreated cavity or a tooth fracture that reaches the dental pulp (inner part of your tooth), you risk developing an abscess. This happens when bacteria reaches your dental pulp, which is the inside of your tooth. See a dentist as soon as possible, and watch for any symptoms. Cavities and trauma typically lead to a “periapical abscess.” An injury to the gums can cause an abscess. Gum disease causes the space between the tooth and the gum to widen, which allows bacteria to enter. This bacteria can cause an abscess, even if the teeth are healthy and cavity-free. If you have any issues with your gums, watch for symptoms of an abscess. Gum injuries and gum disease typically lead to a particular kind of infection known as a “gingival abscess” (or “gum abscess”). If the infection extends to the gum pockets, and the draining of pus is blocked by the swallowed gum, it is then called a “periodontal abscess.”

summary: Maintain good dental hygiene. Avoid sugary foods. Watch for cavities and fractures. Pay attention to your gums.


Summarize the following:
This method of removing acrylic nails is not recommended by nail professionals. Using floss to remove your fake nails can result in pulling off part of your natural nail, which can be painful and possibly lead to an infection. These are widely available and they are perfect for removing fake nails. To make the process even easier, you may want to choose a brand that is meant for flossing between tightly-spaced teeth, such as Glide. If you don’t have or don’t want to buy flosser sticks, then you may also use regular floss. However, you might need a friend to help you since you won’t be able to keep the floss taut with only 1 hand.

summary: Be aware that this technique may damage your natural nails. Purchase dental flossers that are on a stick.


Summarize the following:
Use gentle, circular motions to brush the surface of your teeth at the front and the back of your mouth. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle where your teeth meet the gums and use smooth back-and-forth motions. Then, use the tip of your brush to clean the interior side of your teeth. Turn the brush vertically and rub up and down across the front teeth. Brush every surface of each tooth 2-3 times to clean them.  Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes every time you brush. There is no adequate replacement for brushing your teeth. This is hands down the best way to remove plaque, food residue, and keep your mouth happy and clean. The toothpastes you see marketed as “natural” are typically identical to standard toothpaste except they don’t have fluoride or food coloring. Neither fluoride nor food coloring are bad for your teeth to begin with, so there’s no real benefit to brushing without them.  Outside of any artificial colors and flavoring, there usually aren’t any unnatural ingredients in toothpaste. Basically everything you find in your standard toothpastes are natural and safe. Look for toothpastes with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. These toothpastes will always be high-quality. If you aren’t using a fluoride-based toothpaste, you can still use a toothbrush to remove the plaque and food residue in your mouth. Run the toothbrush under water and brush your teeth the way you normally would. Rinse your mouth out with water after brushing.  You can use a fluoride-free toothpaste if you’d like, but it’s not doing anything other than making your breath fresher.  This is not nearly as effective as using a fluoride-based toothpaste. It’s still better than doing nothing, though! Pull out a 6–8 in (15–20 cm) length of floss. Slide the floss between 2 teeth and gently pull the floss against the side of the tooth while moving the floss back and forth. Do this 4-5 times. Then, pull it gently in the other direction to clean the other side of the tooth. Do this for each gap in your teeth to remove everything stuck in between your teeth.  It only takes 4-5 minutes to floss and it’s a great way to keep your teeth naturally clean! Floss your teeth after brushing your teeth at the end of the day. Floss is typically made with nylon or Teflon. There are organic flosses that you can use instead if you’re looking for a natural option. It shouldn’t matter, though. You’re only rubbing your teeth with it and you aren’t ingesting anything when you floss. Removing any leftover food or residue from your teeth will help prevent stains and decay. Take a sip of water and swish it around in your mouth before spitting it out. Do this after each meal to keep food from decaying in your mouth. You can use an organic mouthwash instead of water if you want a deeper clean. A water pick helps blast stuck-on food from the surface and between the crevices of the teeth and gums. It's an excellent and healthy way to clean your teeth if you feel like there’s something stuck in between your teeth. Avoid using a high-pressure water pick daily if you can. Putting a lot of pressure on your teeth can erode the enamel on your teeth over time. Measure out 1  tsp (4.9 mL) of cold-pressed olive, sunflower, or coconut oil. Pour the oil into your mouth and swish it around in your mouth for 10-15 minutes. Then, spit the oil out and rinse your mouth with warm water. The oil will naturally lift out any foreign minerals and bacteria in your mouth. Oil pulling is a traditional Indian practice that has been proven to help remove harmful foreign bacteria from your mouth. It is not, however, a replacement for brushing your teeth and flossing. If you only use oil pulling as your main source of oral care, your teeth will not last long. There are dozens of DIY and fruit-based alternatives to brushing floating around out there. Basically all of them are either unhelpful or actively bad for your teeth. Strawberry pastes, banana peels, and bentonite clay are the popular options, but they really aren’t a good way to take care of your teeth.  Stay away from salt and baking soda combinations. They may make your teeth look whiter, but it’s only because you’re wearing away the enamel on the surface of your teeth. This will rapidly increase tooth decay over time if you keep this up.  Hydrogen peroxide is fine as an ingredient in an approved toothpaste, but it’s probably bad for you to apply it on your own or use it as an ingredient in a DIY toothpaste. It’s dangerous if you ingest it and it can irritate your gums in undiluted doses.  Apple cider vinegar, which is used for DIY teeth whitening, can damage enamel.
summary: Brush your teeth for 2 minutes at least twice a day. Use regular toothpaste to clean your teeth effectively. Brush your teeth with an empty toothbrush if you don’t use toothpaste. Floss daily to remove food residue and plaque between your teeth. Rinse your mouth with water immediately after eating. Use a water pick to pressure wash your teeth every 2-3 days. Use oil pulling to flush bacteria out once a day. Avoid fruit pastes and DIY toothpastes to prevent damaging your teeth.