How To: Proper Brushing Techniques That Will Keep Your Teeth Sparkling PLUS 4 Brushing Mistakes to Avoid

You’ve probably been told at least one hundred times to brush your teeth at least twice a day, and after every meal if you can. But there’s an equally important recommendation you don’t hear all the time, i.e. — How to brush your teeth.

By focusing on how you brush your teeth, you can improve your oral health without taking up even more of your already precious time.

To help you achieve better results, we’ve gathered eight ‘Dos and Dont’s’ that will having you brushing your teeth smarter, not harder, in no time.

4 Deep-Cleaning Tips for Better Tooth-brushing

1. Choose a soft-bristle toothbrush (and toss out old toothbrushes)

There are a wide variety of toothbrushes available at the drugstore, making choosing the right one a touch intimidating. The first rule of choosing a toothbrush is to keep it soft. You may think a stiff brush will scrub away plaque more efficiently, but the truth is, plaque is quite soft, and a hard-bristle brush can actually damage your teeth and gums. The next step is to find a tooth brush that fits your gums and your teeth. This may take a while and a few test-toothbrushes, but once you find one that fits inside your mouth perfectly, buy a dozen of them! Remember to replace that brush after 3 months, no matter how attached you’ve become to that worn, fraying toothbrush.

2. Hold your toothbrush in the proper way

Have you ever thought of how to hold your toothbrush? Most people don’t! Instead, many people jam that toothbrush into their mouth at a 90° angle and scrub, scrub away, without much thought after that. While that’s the most natural way to brush your teeth, it’s not the most effective. Instead, pick up your toothbrush and hold it at a 45° angle to your teeth, so that the bristles are pointed towards the gums. This helps the bristles get under the gums and clean more effectively.

3. Gently brush your gums

Everyone brushes the ‘chewing face’ of their teeth – it is, after all, where we mostly chew our food. But not too many people venture far enough up (or down) their teeth to get a good clean. Your gumline protrudes 1mm over your teeth, creating the perfect pocket for food particles to get stuck inside. The solution is to gently brush up and over your gums at a 45° angle to clean away any accumulated plaque and bits of food. It’s also a great way to massage your gums, stimulating blood flow and keeping them healthy!

4. Switch up your brushing routine

It’s easy to get stuck in a routine of tooth brushing – first the right side, then the left — it can get monotonous! But it also means if you accidentally miss an area in your routine, it will always get missed. So, to make sure you get your whole mouth properly brushed and clean — and to keep things interesting — try switching up your brushing routine, alternating your tooth-brushing order!

4 Tooth-Brushing Mistakes to Avoid

1. Harsh tooth-scrubbing

Just like choosing a hard bristle brush can hurt your teeth and gums, brushing with too much pressure can do more harm than good inside your mouth. This can cause inflammation, sores, wear away enamel, or even recede your gum-line. Instead of scrubbing with all your might, relax your hand and brush your teeth with a slight pressure, just enough that you feel the toothbrush as you move it around your mouth.

2. Back and forth brushing

It seems like everyone was taught as a child that brushing back and forth into and out of your mouth is the way to go, but it’s not. Back and forth brushing can cause wear on your teeth and gums, and is less effective cleaning. For more effective tooth-brushing, use a circular technique, and brush only one (or two) teeth at a time.

3. Forgetting your teeth have three brushable sides

Everyone brushes the ‘chewing side’ of their teeth, and most people brush the outside of their teeth — but fewer remember to brush the ‘tongue sides’ or the inside of their teeth. Remember, your teeth have three brushable sides, so make sure get every last one to keep them clean, all- around. While you’re at it, be sure to end off your tooth-brushing routine by scrubbing your tongue to get rid of any germs and enjoy fresher breath!

4. Rushing through the brushing

Brushing when you’re rushing to get to work, or out the door, takes your attention from the work at hand, and increases the chance you’re going to miss a tooth (or ten). Instead of rushing your brushing, set an alarm for 2 to 3 minutes for each brushing session so you can be sure you’re doing a proper job of cleaning.

Get the most of your tooth-brushing routine

For a healthier, whiter smile, and for the freshest breath possible, make sure to floss before you brush your teeth, brush your teeth 20 minutes after each meal, and use a mouthwash once per day. Also remember to book in for regular teeth cleaning and checkups.

With just a bit more effort and attention, you can keep your oral health at its peak!