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How to Brush and Floss

  • Created in Oral Hygiene

It’s no secret that the best way to prevent oral decay and disease is by maintaining a strict oral hygiene routine every day. Brushing and flossing go hand in hand; you shouldn’t do one without the other. Brushing your teeth is an excellent way to remove food debris and flossing allows you to get into the hard to reach areas between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach. Both effectively remove plaque, which erode your tooth enamel if left untouched long enough. This then eventually leads to tooth decay. Plaque also causes gum disease and bad breath.

Brushing

  • After choosing a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles, grasp it with your fingers and apply a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the bristles.
  • Be sure to hold the bristles near the gum line.
  • Sweep the brush gently back and forth over your teeth and gums in soft strokes or a circular motion, but do not apply too much force.
  • Clean away food debris between your teeth and away from your gums by using a sweeping motion.
  • Don’t forget to brush the back of your teeth as well, tilting the bristles up toward the gums for the top teeth or down toward the gums for your bottom teeth.
  • Also brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth by holding the bristles flat against your molars to clean all the ridges of your back teeth.
  • Repeat this whole process for your other row of teeth.
  • Finally, carefully brush your tongue to remove extra bacteria.

Flossing

  • Begin by cutting off a piece of floss about 18 inches long.
  • Wind the floss around the middle finger of both your hands, leaving a gap between them that spans about three or four inches.
  • It’s common for beginners to tighten their lips and cheeks, making it difficult to get their fingers into their mouth. Be sure to relax them.
  • Slowly guide the floss between your teeth. If the gap is tight, use a gentle sawing motion to slip the floss between the gap. The sawing motion should only be used when slipping floss between your teeth.
  • There are two sides to each space between your teeth. They must be flossed separately in order to not irritate the triangle of gum tissue between the teeth. Run the floss up and down the surface of the first side, making sure that you’re reaching the gum line and then to the highest point between the teeth. Apply pressure away from the gum triangle, letting it curve around the first side of the tooth to form a letter “C” with the floss. Repeat this process with the other side of the tooth.
  • Work all around the mouth to get every side and the backsides of your molars.
  • Feel free to unwind more floss if you find your strand fraying or turning brown.
Map & Hours

Our Location

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Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Meet the Doctors
  • Dr.
    Jordan Masson

    I am originally from the east side of Michigan and grew up about 40 minutes north of Detroit.  I attended Western Michigan University and received a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science. Following WMU, I set my sites on Dental School and earned my DDS from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 2008.

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  • Dr.
    Andrew Knowlton

    I decided to become a dentist following a skiing accident in high school resulting in a broken jaw and a few missing teeth. My dentist made me feel great during a time that I thought my social life was over. I knew I wanted to give people the same feeling I experienced.

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History of Our Practice

History of Our Practice

Dr. Gary Cook started our practice in 1975. Dr. Cook grew up in Kent City and attended the University of Michigan Dental School. After 4 years of general practice, he sold his practice to Dr. Lee McFall in 1979, and went back to U of M to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Cook later returned to Grand Rapids to practice in Pediatrics.

Dr. McFall graduated from Sparta High School in 1970, Albion College in 1974 and the University of Michigan in 1978. He practiced in Sheridan, Michigan for one year as an associate before buying Dr. Cook’s practice at 9161 Sparta Avenue. In the beginning, he practiced with one chair for himself and one for a hygienist. He had 3 employees: a hygienist, an assistant and a receptionist. In 1981 Dr. McFall bought his first computer system to be used to print and track insurance claims. The practice grew and a second chair for the doctor’s patients was added. In 1985 a second computer system was installed and was still used mainly for printing insurance forms at the reception desk. The practice continued to grow and a 4th chair was added for a second hygienist. By this time there were 10 employees.

In 1995 a networked computer system was installed with a dedicated file server, and with software that could be used in the treatment rooms as well as the front desk. This computer and software system was the beginning of a long-range technology plan to completely change how the practice would deliver dental care. We began using this system at the front desk to send insurance claims electronically. At that time we were one of the first offices in West Michigan using electronic submission of insurance claims for our patients. In January of 1997 a complete remodeling of the office was done and an intraoral camera system was installed to use for patient education and for photos to send to insurance companies for our patients.

In July of 1999 Dr. Andrew Knowlton joined our practice. Dr. Knowlton graduated from Belding High School in 1991, Andrews University in 1995, and University of Michigan Dental School in 1999. In the year 2000 we placed computers in the treatment rooms to more accurately and efficiently record treatment. We were also able to schedule appointments in the treatment rooms. This shortened the amount of time it took for our patients to “check out” after treatment. At this time we had 14 employees.

The practice grew steadily between 2000 & 2004 and in October of 2004, Dr. Knowlton & Dr. McFall became equal partners. The name of the practice changed from C. Lee McFall DDS PC to Knowlton & McFall Dentistry, PLLC. In 2005 we added a 5th treatment room but by that time we actually needed even more space than the rented building had room for. In 2006 we purchased land at 9654 Sparta Ave. and began plans for a new office. The office was completed in late 2008 and is one of the most technologically advanced general practices in West Michigan. Digital records, digital x-rays, and digital photographs are all utilized in the new facility. We believe it is a beautiful and comfortable place for patients to come for their oral health care.

In 2013, Dr. McFall was searching for a dentist to replace him as he was nearing retirement.   Dr. Jordan Masson fit the bill.  Dr. Masson graduated from Lake Orion High School in 2000, Western Michigan University in 2004, and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 2008.  He was first hired as an associate dentist, but in July of 2014, Dr. Masson purchased Dr. McFall’s portion of the practice and officially became equal partners with Dr. Knowlton.  The name of the practice was changed from Knowlton & McFall Dentistry, PLLC to Knowlton & Masson Dentistry, PLLC.

Though our practice has evolved over the years, we remain committed to providing the best, individualized, and comprehensive care that we can for our valued patients.