Brushing your teeth, a Technical Writer's view

Calling all technical writers.

Do you find yourself telling people what to do and how to do it? If you answered yes, keep reading. If you answered no, you will one day so I suggest you keep reading as well.

Technical writers turn the task of explaining a process and the necessary steps to complete the process into a profession. In my Technical writing class, I had the opportunity to experience technical writing. Take a look at my process/mechanism assignment I created describing how to brush your teeth.  

Noelle

How to Brush your Teeth

Introduction

“Teeth are hard, bonelike structures in the upper and lower jaws of human beings and many kinds of animals. They are the hardest parts of the body.” (Wortel, 2011) The human body produces two sets of teeth. The first set consists of 20 baby teeth that fall out in the late toddler years and 32 permanent teeth that form when the baby teeth come out. These teeth stick with you for the rest of your life.

Permanent teeth have the important task of aiding in the process of digestion by breaking down food to make it easy to swallow. In order to keep a healthy smile you must take care of your teeth. One way of taking care of your teeth is by brushing them. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends, “Brushing your teeth twice a day with ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste and replacing your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles are frayed” (American Dental Association, 2011).

To brush your teeth you will need a toothbrush, toothpaste, a sink, a cup, and some floss. The process of brushing your teeth includes (1) preparing your toothbrush, (2) brushing your teeth, (3) cleaning your tongue, (4) flossing, and (5) rinsing with water.

The Process

Preparing your toothbrush.   Squirt a pea size amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush. Quickly run your toothbrush under the faucet water to get your brush a little wet.

Brushing your teeth.   Angle your toothbrush towards your gums. Gently brush the inside of your teeth in small circular motions. Brush the teeth near the tongue, the side you use to chew and the outside or front of your teeth. Brush both upper and bottom teeth.

cleaning your tongue.   Use the toothbrush to scrub your tongue starting from the middle of your tongue and moving to the tip of your tongue and spit.

flossing.   Pick up your floss and hold each end in either hand. Take each end of the floss and alternate pulling each end in between your teeth. Floss between each tooth.

rinsing with water.   Fill your cup with a small amount of water. Take a little water into your mouth. Move the water around in your mouth and spit it out. 

Conclusion

In order to keep your teeth clean and healthy, you must brush your teeth. Brush your teeth twice a day. Brush when you wake up and before you go to sleep. Remember to always BTTFR- Brush your teeth, tongue, Floss and Rinse. Most of all remember to see your dentist at least once a year. With these tips, you should be able to maintain a beautiful clean and healthy smile.  

                    

References

American Dental Association. (2011). Retrieved April 10, 2011, from American Dental Association Web site: http://www.ada.org/5624.aspx?currentTab=1

Wortel, J. P. (2011). "Teeth.". Retrieved April 10, 2011, from World Book Advanced: http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar549500&st=brushing+teeth&sc=0#cite