Stop Torturing Your Teeth, Brush up on proper oral hygiene.

Combine a hard-bristled toothbrush with a heavy hand and you have a tooth-and-gum's version of fingernails on a chalkboard. Follow our tips for gently cleaning your teeth; they may thank you by lasting a lifetime.

Make sure it's soft.
When choosing a toothbrush, look for soft bristles. According to Matthew Messina, D.D.S., consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, "The only time you should ever use a hard brush is to clean the whitewalls on your tires"

Go longer, not harder.
Don't clean your teeth the way you'd clean your bathroom sink. Constant, forceful scrubbing can wear away tooth enamel and gums, leaving you susceptible to tooth sensitivity and root cavities.

To brush properly, tilt your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle so that bristles reach teeth and gums at the same time. Using small, gentle circular motions, massage your teeth clean. Check that your bristles don't splay way out, a good sign that you're pressing too hard.

To clean the insides of your top and bottom front teeth, put the toothbrush in your mouth like you would a lollipop and brush with an in-and-out motion. Use short, back-and-forth strokes to clean the biting surfaces. Before rinsing, get rid of more bacteria and ensure fresh breath by scrubbing your tongue.

Dye to tell the truth.
Once you've mastered the new technique, purchase a packet of disclosing tablets (available in most drugstores or ask your dentist) to check your skill level. Made of harmless vegetable dye the tablet will temporarily stain any plaque that brushing did not remove.

Above all, vow to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste recommended by the ADA. Anything less, and you increase the risk of letting plaque turn into tartar - that cement-like substance that bonds to your teeth and can only be scaled away at the dentist's office. ---- by Yun Lee

• Stop sucking habits as soon as possible. They lead to potential tooth misalignment.
• Choose a soft, kid-size brush. Replace the brush every three months.
• Use no more than a pea-size amount of toothpaste on your child's brush. This offers adequate fluoride and protection from fluorosis, a damaging oral condition caused by over-ingestion of fluoride.
• Help your toddler brush after breakfast and before bed. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children under 8 brush with parents' help.
• Avoid starchy and sugary snacks. They stick to teeth and increase the risk of decay.
• If your child is unable to brush, rinse her mouth with water to wash way food particles and sugar.
• Call your community's water department to find out whether your water is fluoridated, and talk to your dentist about the best fluoride treatment.

• During a given year, nearly 100 million Americans don't visit the dentist.
• Over 20 million work days are lost annually in the U.S. because of oral diseases or the need for dental care.
• 84% of 17-year-olds still suffer from tooth decay.
• 75% of oral cancer deaths can be attributed to tobacco and alcohol use.
• Oral cancer results in over 8,600 deaths a year.
• Nearly 150 million Americans are dentally uninsured.
• Medicare does not cover routine dental services.
• Medicaid provides little care to eligible adults in need of oral care services.

A new poll that measures attitudes toward oral health indicates Americans harbor conflicting ideas regarding periodontal disease.

The Roper Report on Oral Health surveyed more than 1,000 American adults age 18 and older, and found that 80 percent of respondents do not believe they have had periodontal disease.

Seventy percent of respondents, however, report having experienced at least one symptom of gum disease; swollen, painful or receding gums; a change in bite; or loose teeth.

Only 36 percent of adults with bleeding gums say they told their dentists about the problem; and only 30 percent of those who have experienced warning signs of gum disease are worried about developing periodontal problems in the future.

"Oddly, 41 percent of survey respondents said that losing their teeth was their biggest fear regarding oral health," said Irwin Barrington, D.D.S., a periodontist who practices in Chicago. "They do not seem to understand that if left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to the loss of teeth."

Other findings from the survey include the following:

• 79 percent perceive their oral health to be excellent or good
• 70 percent believe it is not very, or not at all likely, they will lose their teeth and need to wear dentures
• Adults who visit the dentist regularly are less likely to think they will lose their teeth and need to wear dentures
• 58 percent know that plaque is the main cause of gum disease and that flossing alone will not prevent gum disease
• 77 percent know that brushing alone will not prevent gum disease
• 96 percent know that gum disease can strike anyone at any age
• Women (33 percent) are somewhat more worried about the threat of gum disease than men (27 percent)
• Only seven percent cite cavities, and three percent cite root canals, as significant oral health concerns

"This survey shows that Americans realize cavities are no longer a primary oral health concern," said Dr. Barrington. "That's because dentists have worked long and hard to educate people about proper oral hygiene, which drastically reduced the need to fill cavities. We are now educating the public about periodontal disease and its impact on the oral cavity."

The Roper Report on Oral Health was commissioned by the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Periodontology, and Procter & Gamble.