The Care and Keeping of You 1. Valorie Schaefer
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Название: The Care and Keeping of You 1

Автор: Valorie Schaefer

Издательство: Ingram

Жанр: Учебная литература

Серия: American Girl

isbn: 9781683371083

isbn:

СКАЧАТЬ a small toothbrush with soft,

      rounded bristles. Replace your brush

      every two to three months, or as

      soon as the bristles get droopy. Bent

      bristles won’t clean your teeth prop-

      erly, and they can harm your gums.

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      Daily Duty

      Plaque is a gooey bacterial film that

      forms on your teeth. It can cause

      cavities and gum disease. Attack

      plaque! Brush your teeth first thing

      in the morning and at bedtime. Try

      to brush after eating, too. Pack a

      toothbrush in your backpack and

      slumber party kit so you won’t be

      tempted to skip. Do it every day,

      the right way. No fair just swishing

      the toothpaste around a little!

      Correct brushing takes minutes,

      not seconds.

      Tickle Your Tongue

      Don’t forget to brush your tongue,

      too! Freshly scrubbed taste buds are

      an important part of a clean mouth

      and fresh breath.

      How to Brush

      1.Hold your toothbrush at an

      angle to your gum line. Brush back

      and forth in small strokes, one

      tooth at a time. Repeat until

      you’ve scrubbed every single

      tooth.

      2.Now do the back of each

      tooth, using the same back-and-

      forth motion. Make sure to brush

      right up to the gum line.

      3.Use the tip of the brush to

      get behind your top and bottom

      front teeth.

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      How to Floss

      1. Pull off a strand of floss

      about 18 inches long. Wind

      most of it around the middle

      finger of one hand, and the rest

      around the middle finger of the

      other.

      2. Grip the floss between

      your thumbs and forefingers,

      stretching it tight. Push the

      floss gently between two of

      your teeth, wiggling it up and

      down the sides of both teeth

      and under the gum line. Imagine

      yourself scooping out little bits

      of food.

      3. Unwind a little clean floss,

      winding up the used floss as

      you do so. Floss between two

      more teeth. Keep going, wind-

      ing and flossing, until you’ve

      cleaned between all your teeth.

      Don’t forget to floss at the very

      end of each row, behind your

      last tooth.

      Healthy Gums

      Think pink! Your gums need just as much attention as

      your teeth. If you don’t take care of your gums, you could

      be setting yourself up for gingivitis—a disease that causes

      painful, red, swollen gums. To prevent gingivitis, floss once

      a day to fish out food lurking along the gum line. Dental

      floss comes in different thicknesses, waxed and unwaxed,

      to slide between your teeth comfortably. It even comes in

      tasty flavors!

      Fresh Breath

      Halitosis is a fancy way of saying “bad breath.” But no

      matter what you call it, nothing shouts “Stand back!”

      quite as loudly. In rare cases mouth odor is caused by a

      nasal infection, upset stomach, or other problem that

      may need a doctor’s attention. But it may just be a sign

      that you’re skimping on brushing and flossing. Food

      between your teeth can rot and stink just like garbage.

      Clean it out!

      Smile and Say “Calcium”!

      For strong chompers, eat foods high in calcium, a mineral

      that helps toughen up teeth. You can find calcium in

      dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, as well

      as in non-dairy foods such as green leafy vegetables, black

      beans, and orange-colored fruits. A balanced, healthy diet

      that limits gooey, chewy, sticky snacks is the smartest

      choice.

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      Regular Visits

      Does going to the dentist make your

      teeth chatter? You’ll be less afraid if

      you know what to expect. Before the

      exam, СКАЧАТЬ