How to Brush Teeth

Brushing your teeth isn’t just for a whiter smile and fresher breath, it’s also important for your health. ^{[1] X Source of Research} When you brush your teeth, you remove plaque – the thin layer of bacteria that adheres to your teeth, causing tooth decay and periodontal disease. If you don’t pay attention for a long time, your teeth are at risk of falling out! Bad breath caused by bad breath can alienate people, especially those around you. ^{[2] X Research Source} You understand why you should brush your teeth, but if you want to learn how to brush effectively, the suggestions below will help you.

Table of Contents

Using the Right Tools

Use a good brush. Choose a toothbrush with soft nylon bristles that can effectively remove plaque and food residues without causing gum pain or enamel wear like hard bristles do when brushing. The brush should fit your hand, with a small enough head to easily reach all teeth, especially the molars. If you have difficulty getting the brush into your mouth, it may be because the brush is too big. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

An electric toothbrush is a good choice if you’re afraid to brush your teeth and think it’ll encourage you to spend more time brushing. However, you can still do well when brushing by hand, the secret lies in the technique.
It is best to brush your teeth with a regular toothbrush in the morning, and use an electric toothbrush in the evening.
You should stay away from brushes with “natural” fibers made from animal hair because that can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Change the brush regularly. The bristles will wear out after a period of use, losing their softness and effectiveness. You should replace the brush every 3-4 months, or as soon as the bristles are worn out and do not keep their original shape. Visual brush inspection is more important than time estimation. You can also buy a brush with a handle that changes color to let you know when it’s time to buy a new one.

Research shows that thousands of bacteria on the handle and bristles of the brush can cause infections. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
After about three months, the bristles become sharp and can damage gums.
Always rinse the brush thoroughly after use, hold it upright and uncovered to allow it to dry before the next use. Otherwise, bacteria will grow. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Use a toothpaste containing fluoride. Fluoride not only helps remove plaque but also strengthens tooth enamel. ^{[6] X Trusted Source American Dental Association Go to Source} However, it is important to remember that fluoride toothpaste should not be swallowed as it can cause serious health problems if swallowed too much. Fluoride toothpaste should not be used by children under 3 years of age. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can buy toothpastes to address various gum problems, such as cavities, tartar, sensitive teeth and gums, gingivitis, and discolored teeth. Choose the one that suits you best and consult your dentist or dental hygienist. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Use the dental floss. Flossing is just as important as brushing because it removes forming plaque, bacteria and food residues that stick between teeth that soft bristles can’t reach even with normal up/down brushing. You should regularly floss before brushing to remove food or bacteria.

Remember to floss gently. Don’t “press hard” on the floss between your teeth as it can hurt sensitive gums. Gently press along the edge of each tooth.
If you find flossing odd or you wear braces, switch to a dental toothpick, a small plastic or wooden toothpick that you can insert between your teeth, for the same results as flossing. if the interdental spaces are wide enough.
Alternatively, you can use a dental floss stick, the other end of which is usually designed like a toothpick.

Hone Your Brushing Technique

Take a small amount of toothpaste. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the brush. Using too much toothpaste can cause you to spit it out or end brushing too soon. Moreover, you run the risk of swallowing more fluoride toothpaste, which is very harmful to health. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If brushing is painful, brush gently with precise up/down movements or switch to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

Place the bristles at a 45-degree angle from the gums. Gently brush your teeth with short vertical or circular motions. Do not brush across the tooth surface. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Spend at least 3 minutes brushing your teeth. Brush a few teeth at a time, brushing in a circular motion (starting from below the outer surface of the left tooth to the right, then above the outside surface of the left tooth to the right, then the inside of the upper tooth, then the bottom from right to right). left). Thus, it will take you 12-15 seconds to brush each place one by one. If possible, you can divide the mouth into four parts: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. If you spend 30 seconds on each section then you need a total of 2 minutes to brush your teeth.

Start brushing on the left lower jaw, the outer surface of the teeth, move to the right outer surface of the lower jaw, then move up to the right upper jaw and left upper jaw. Move on to the inner tooth of the upper jaw, the inner right side of the lower jaw, and finally the inner left side.
If you find brushing your teeth tedious, try brushing your teeth while watching a movie or humming a song. Brush your teeth when you finish the song, you’ll be sure to brush your teeth!

Brush teeth. Place the brush perpendicular to the lips so that the bristles rest on the lower teeth. Brush from the inside out. Do the same with the other side of the mouth. When the lower molars are cleaned, rotate the brush up to brush the upper molars. To brush the upper teeth, always move the lower jaw rhythmically towards the direction you are brushing. This will increase the space so you can easily move the brush up and down a few times.

To reach the outer surface of the upper teeth, always push the lower jaw to the side you want to brush. This is a way to expand the space to scrub the brush so that there is no horizontal movement.

Brush the inside of your teeth. Gently push the brush head towards the gums and brush each tooth one by one. According to dental reports, the most often overlooked part is the inside of the bottom front teeth, so make sure you don’t forget them! Check that the mouth is open wide enough by pulling it out with 2 or 3 fingers of the other hand. This will help create the correct vertical angle to touch the gum line. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Brush your tongue gently. After cleaning your teeth, use a toothbrush to gently brush your tongue. (Do not press too hard as you will damage the tissues of the tongue.) This will freshen your breath and remove bacteria from your tongue.

End

Washing mouth. If you choose to rinse your mouth after brushing, take a sip of water from a disposable cup or from the palm of your hand. Gargle and spit out the water.

Note that there is some debate about whether to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. Some argue that this reduces the effectiveness of fluoride on the tooth surface, others want to make sure it doesn’t cause you to swallow the fluoride. But there are people who don’t like the toothpaste still in their mouth! If you’re prone to tooth decay, it’s better not to rinse or rinse with a little water—helps create a fluoride mouthwash effectively. ^{[12] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source}
Other studies show that rinsing after brushing does not affect the effectiveness of brushing with fluoride toothpaste. ^{[13] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}

Wash the brush. Hold the brush under running water for a few seconds to remove bacteria. If you don’t rinse thoroughly, you can put bacteria back in your mouth the next time you brush your teeth. Thorough rinsing also removes any remaining toothpaste. Please put the brush in a dry place, otherwise bacteria will grow.

Finish with a fluoride mouthwash (Optional). Take a small sip of the mouthwash, rinse for about 30 seconds, and spit it out. Take care not to swallow.

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Gargle with salt water (Optional). Salt water kills bacteria that are harmful to your teeth. Some people think that salt water is acidic, can wear down teeth if used too much. So don’t take too much, like everything else, too much is not good.

To create a protective antibacterial layer for your mouth, rinse your mouth with a chlorhexidine solution before going to bed, but don’t use it continuously for more than two weeks.

Remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Most dentists recommend brushing at least twice a day, in the morning and at night before bed. If you can hit it again in between sessions, even better! Try brushing your teeth with a 45° angled toothbrush as this will help remove plaque, food/drinks left on your teeth better than you would normally. You should try to avoid snacking between meals as much as possible because this increases bacteria and food plaque.

Joseph Whitehouse, MA, DDS

dentist

Joseph Whitehouse is a board-certified dentist and former president of the World Congress on Minimally Invasive Dentistry (WCMID). Living in Castro Valley, California, Whitehouse has more than 46 years of experience in the dental and consulting industry. He received scholarship packages at the International Congress of Oral Implantpogy and WCMID. Published more than 20 times in medical journals, Dr. Whitehouse’s research focuses on reducing patients’ fears and anxieties related to dental care. He earned a DDS from the University of Iowa in 1970. He also earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from California State University Hayward in 1988.

Joseph Whitehouse, MA, DDS
dentist

Expert advice: If you go to your dentist regularly, ask them if there’s a problem. Your dentist can tell you what areas you missed when brushing your teeth.

Advice

If you can’t brush your teeth after eating, at least rinse your mouth to remove the leftovers.
Brush your teeth for at least two minutes.
If your gums bleed easily, that’s a sign that your gums are sore (gingivitis). See the dentist. Gingivitis is an important cause of not only tooth loss and bad breath, but also heart valve damage. Don’t stop brushing if your gums bleed and switch to a softer brush.
There are toothbrushes that come with a timer that tells you when to brush your teeth. These can help you when brushing your teeth at different angles.
Brush your teeth 10 minutes after eating.
Electric toothbrushes are better because you don’t have to “rub” your teeth—but overall, good brushing habits are more important than whether or not you use an electric toothbrush.
Most people follow a rut when it comes to brushing their teeth. Consider a different starting position to brush each time to avoid missing the same spot multiple times.
Use toothpicks to remove leftovers from between teeth.
Dental visit every 6 months for checkups, x-rays and cleaning of teeth.
After drinking carbonated water, alcohol, or acidic fruit juices such as orange juice, wait at least 45 minutes before brushing your teeth. Carbonated water and juices often leave acids on the teeth, brushing will cause tooth enamel loss. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Finally, brush your teeth in the morning and at night before going to bed. Brush your teeth after meals if possible but don’t overdo it; Too much brushing is not good for your teeth. ^{[15] X Research Source}
If you want to brush your tongue (which is highly recommended), make sure you don’t brush too deep into your throat.

Warning

Don’t brush your teeth too hard. Gums are very sensitive organs.
Change the brush every 3 months. Loose bristles can damage gums.
Never use someone else’s brush. You can pass on germs, bacteria, or diseases through tiny scratches in your mouth.
Don’t forget to brush your teeth – forgetting to do such an important habit can lead to tooth decay.
Wait at least 45 minutes after consuming acidic foods or drinks before brushing to avoid wearing away enamel.
Do not swallow toothpaste or mouthwash. These contain chemicals that are harmful if swallowed, such as ammonia and cetylpyridinium chloride.
There may be bleeding in some inflamed areas for a few days, but it will heal quickly, leaving your mouth feeling fresh.
If more toothpaste or mouthwash is swallowed than is needed for brushing or rinsing, see a doctor or call a Poison Control Center immediately.

Things you need

Dental floss
Toothpaste
Water
Salt water (Optional)
Mouthwash (Optional)
Good quality brush

Steps

Using the Right Tools

Hone Your Brushing Technique

End

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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