How to brush, floss and care for your mouth, according to Caldwell County health educators

Caitlin, a staff member at the Caldwell County Health Department Dental Clinic, demonstrated practical oral-hygiene steps during an interview with county health educators Tyler and Bree.

Brushing: Caitlin recommended using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and brushing all surfaces—the inside (tongue side), biting surfaces and the outside that is visible—focusing along the gum line to remove plaque. "You just wanna make sure when you're brushing, you're getting all surfaces," she said.

Flossing: Caitlin described a flossing method that wraps the floss around a finger and uses a C-shaped motion along the gum line to remove bacteria between teeth. She said clinicians often recommend flossing after brushing, but she personally flosses first and stressed that the important point is consistency: "As long as you're getting it done."

Toothbrush and mouthwash: She advised a soft-bristle toothbrush to avoid gum irritation and enamel abrasion, and recommended non-alcohol mouthwash because alcohol can dry the mouth and cause a burning sensation for some people.

Tongue cleaning and calculus: Caitlin urged scraping or brushing the tongue last to remove bacterial buildup and noted that calculus (hardened plaque) generally requires a professional dental cleaning to remove.

Clinic services note: for questions about dental services or appointments, Caitlin said people can call the Caldwell County Health Department Dental Clinic at (828) 426-8525; she added the clinic is temporarily without a dentist and is actively searching for one.