E-mail: jkrape@adelphia.com

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Know Your Smile Every tooth is covered by enamel. It's a hard mineralized substance that protects the softer layer of dentin underneath, and the even softer nerve center called the pulp. Without strong enamel, decay could easily destroy the good health of a tooth. That's why fluoride is so important. It gets absorbed into tooth enamel to strengthen it and help it resist decay.

Cavities Cavities can occur when food and plaque interact, producing acids that can eat away tooth enamel.

Did You Know? Most adults brush for just 67 seconds. That's almost half as long as they should.

Brushing • Proper brushing requires at least two minutes - that's right, one hundred and twenty seconds! • Use floride toothpaste. • Choose a soft-bristled brush. • Pay extra atttention to the gumline and hard to reach back teeth. • For freasher breath, brush your tongue.
	Tilt the brush at a 45 degree angle against the gumline. Gently brush the outside, inside and chewing surface of each tooth using short back-and-forth strokes. Gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen breath.

Flossing • Some adults floss daily, but most don't. If you're one of the latter, you're leaving up to 35% of your tooth surfaces untouched and uncleaned. • Floss Every Day • Make certian to clean below the gumline.
	Use about 18 in. of floss, leaving about an inch or two to work with. Gently follow the curves of your teeth. Be sure to clean beneath the gumline, but avoid snapping the floss on the gums.

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 Jerry W. Krape, D.D.S.,  P.A.
700 N. Federal Hwy. • Lake Park, FL  33403
Open Weekdays and Saturdays
Telephone:  (561) 842-4858
E-mail: jkrape@adelphia.com

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