You've been brushing your teeth for years now, but you may be surprised to find out that you're not doing it correctly. Proper brushing takes at least two minutes twice a day (see how often to brush teeth), yet most adults don't even come close to brushing for that long. You can use your watch or smartphone as a timer to help achieve best results in addition to these effective teeth brushing techniques. 

How to Brush Your Teeth

1. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle along the gum line.
2. Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. 
3. Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
4. Clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth by tilting the brush vertically and making several up-and-down strokes.
5. Brush your tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria to keep your breath fresh.

Beyond Brushing

Remember that brushing your teeth is only part of a complete dental care routine. Make sure to follow these additional tips for optimal oral health:

• Floss twice a day
• Rinse after meals and snacks
• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings 

Are you looking for an SLS-free toothpaste and alcohol-free mouthwash?

FAQs

1. What is the most popular brushing technique?

Research has shown that the modified Bass/Bass technique is more effective than horizontal brushing in reducing plaque and gingivitis.
 
The Bass/Bass technique is built around the fact that the brush should be held at an angle of 45° when touching the teeth. This is said to be more effective when it comes to reducing bacteria when the brush removes plaque. This is when the brush touches the teeth at the gum line, which removes plaque that is often hard to reach. This type of brushing is best done for at least two minutes. More research should be done to see if this method is better than other methods for brushing, but it can be an effective addition to daily oral hygiene routines.

2. Is 3 minutes too long to brush teeth?

According to our recommendations, most patients should brush their teeth for about three minutes at a time. Typically, this is enough time to remove all the plaque and keep the gums and teeth healthy.

3. Are you supposed to rinse after brushing your teeth?

If any toothpaste remains after brushing, spit it out. If you immediately rinse your mouth after brushing, the fluoride in the toothpaste will be washed away. It loses some of its anti-infective properties as a result.

4. When is the best time to brush teeth?

The best time to brush teeth is the first thing after morning wake up, before eating breakfast. This is the best time because by brushing your teeth right after waking up, you are ensuring that the plaque sticking to the teeth is removed first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything. As you may not be aware, this is the time when your mouth is at its cleanest because the saliva production goes up at this time of day. Thus, brushing teeth right after waking up is the best way to ensure that the plaque sticking to the teeth is removed right away.

5. Should you brush your gums?

Brush your teeth and gums thoroughly every day to prevent tooth loss and gum disease. There are three stages to gum disease: gingivitis, moderate periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis, all of which are caused by bacteria in plaque.