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You will have probably been told to clean your teeth from as early as you can remember. Brushing your teeth every morning and night helps fight bacteria and plaque buildup while keeping tartar, tooth decay, and gum disease at bay. 

We all live busy lives, and it often seems that the more we do to make life smoother, the busier our days become. Although you might stick to a routine, there’s often a chance that brushing your teeth out of habit means corners are cut. This puts the health of your smile at risk. 

Getting back into good habits will help preserve your smile for years to come. So, what can you do to improve your brushing technique?

In this article, we’ll share seven essential tips for brushing your teeth.

1. Brush Twice Daily

Brushing morning and night is the one rule you probably already know. But because you may have done it for most of your life, you might not give much thought to the importance of brushing at the start and end of your day. 

Brushing your teeth in the morning may seem obvious. You wake up with morning breath, and brushing helps you freshen up for the day ahead. This bad breath is a symptom of the bacteria that’s built up through the night. Although you’re freshening your breath, you’re also removing this bacteria from your mouth before it harms your teeth and gums. 

Nighttime brushing is most often skipped. If it’s been a long day or a late night, it’s sometimes easy to head to bed without brushing —but it’s vital you do!

Brushing at night removes the food particles and bacteria that build up throughout the day. Neglecting your nightly brushing session will increase the risk of cavities and gum disease. 

2. Use a Soft Bristled Toothbrush

It’s easy to believe you need to brush hard. But using a toothbrush with firmer bristles and a more vigorous brushing style could damage your gums and weaken enamel. 

It’s recommended that you change your toothbrush every three months or when the bristles lose their shape. When choosing a new toothbrush, pick one with a softer head. 

3. Consider Going Electric

Although you can get great results with a manual toothbrush, going electric can improve the thoroughness of your clean. If used correctly, electric toothbrushes can remove more plaque, decreasing the risk of cavities. 

4. Use Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which is often found in toothpaste. It’s used to strengthen enamel and prevent decay. 

When shopping for toothpaste, choose one with high levels of fluoride. Ideally, you should aim for a toothpaste with 1,500 ppm fluoride. 

5. Brush for Two Minutes

Running a toothbrush around your mouth quickly means you’ll miss areas, and plaque can rapidly build up. Brushing for two minutes allows you to clean every tooth’s surface. 

Most electric toothbrushes have a two-timer built in, and some even divide this time into 30-second intervals. If your toothbrush doesn’t have a timer, use one on your phone. 

6. Floss!

Flossing helps remove the bacteria and food particles trapped between your teeth. By flossing daily, you’ll reduce the risk of gum disease and help keep your smile fresh. 

If traditional floss isn’t for you, you may find floss harps, interdental brushes, or water flossers easier to use. 

7. Spit! Don’t Rinse

When you finish brushing, it may feel natural to rinse your mouth with water. Don’t. Rinsing will wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste and impact its effectiveness. Instead, just spit out the toothpaste. 

Similarly, you should also avoid rinsing with mouthwash immediately after brushing. Although mouthwash can help the fight against plaque, it may also wash away fluoride. Instead, consider using mouthwash at other points in your day. 

Dental Care at Nu Dental

A good hygiene routine will help minimise potential dental issues. Alongside the tips for brushing your teeth shared in this guide, we recommend visiting us for a checkup twice a year and making regular appointments with our dental hygienist. 

Get in touch today to book your next appointment.