The ultimate guide to brushing: are you doing it right?

Most of us have brushed our teeth every day since we were children — and most of us are still doing it slightly wrong. Brushing is the single most powerful thing you can do for your teeth at home, but only if the technique is right. Here is how we teach it at the clinic.

Pick the right brush

• Soft bristles. Medium and hard brushes scrub away enamel and pull the gums back over time. Soft is enough to remove plaque.
• Small head so it can reach the back teeth.
• Replace it every 3 months, or sooner if the bristles splay out.
• An electric brush is not essential, but it does make good technique easier — useful for children and for anyone with arthritis.

The technique that actually works

1. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, not flat against the tooth.
2. Use small circular movements or short back-and-forth strokes — not a hard horizontal scrub.
3. Brush the outside, the inside, and the biting surface of every tooth.
4. Tilt the brush vertically to clean behind the front teeth.
5. Give it a full two minutes. Split the mouth into four quarters and spend 30 seconds on each.
6. Gently brush the tongue to freshen breath.

Common mistakes

• Brushing too hard. If your bristles bend flat, ease off. Harder is not cleaner.
• Brushing right after acidic food or drink (citrus, cola, juice). Enamel is softened for about 30 minutes afterwards — wait, or rinse with plain water first.
• Only brushing once a day. Aim for morning and last thing at night. The night-time brush matters most.
• Forgetting the gum line, where plaque collects and gum disease starts.

Brushing is only half the job

A toothbrush cannot reach between the teeth — that is where a floss or an interdental brush comes in, once a day. And a professional scaling every six months clears the hardened tartar that brushing can no longer shift.

If your gums bleed when you brush, or a tooth is sensitive to cold, that is worth getting checked. Come in, or send us a message and we will advise you.