Brushing and flossing are important parts of your daily routine. Here are some tips to help you:

• Brush your teeth gently. Don't squash the bristles - that means you're brushing too hard.
• Replace your toothbrush every two to three months, or as soon as the bristles are worn or bent. A worn-out toothbrush does not clean your teeth properly and can hurt your gums. You should also replace your toothbrush after you've had a cold.
• Be sure you are reaching every tooth. The toothbrush can only clean one or two teeth at a time, so move it around a lot.
• Avoid toothbrushes with hard bristles, which can damage your gums. Use a toothbrush with soft, end-rounded bristles.

• By the time you're eight, you can floss your own teeth. Try using a loop of floss. Tie the ends of a 10-inch piece of floss, forming a circle. Hold the floss tightly between the thumbs and forefingers.
• Floss your teeth the same way each time, so that you don't miss any teeth.
• Floss gently, so you don't hurt your gums.

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