Become a fan of h2g2 Do you have gums that bleed? Sensitive
teeth? Or fears about your breath? If so, here are a few
straightforward guidelines to help you to gain better oral
hygiene. They are easy to implement and don't require expensive
lotions, potions or equipment. To combat the problem of gums
that seem to bleed whenever even slightly irritated, the way one
brushes one's teeth must be examined. For example, to avoid
actually brushing the gums away and exposing the sensitive roots
of the teeth, a relatively gentle 'up and down' brushing motion
should be used. Brushing from side to side frenziedly might feel
like you're really stripping the plaque and tartar from your
teeth, but this can literally leave notches in the softer
dentine found below the gumline and cause recession of the gums
themselves. Another basic piece of advice is to attempt to clean
the areas between one's teeth gently using a couple of
toothbrush bristles or floss. This is to remove any hidden
pieces of food from the gaps between teeth