How To Brush Your Teeth the Right Way – Advice from a Dentist in Selby
Most people know that they should brush their teeth twice a day, but effective brushing involves more than moving a toothbrush quickly around the mouth.
Plaque often remains around the gum line, between teeth and behind the back teeth, even when someone brushes regularly. Improving how you clean these areas can help reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum inflammation and persistent bad breath.
There is no single brushing technique that is perfect for every person. The most important points are to use fluoride toothpaste, clean every tooth surface systematically and avoid applying excessive pressure.
How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?
Brush your teeth twice a day for around two minutes each time. One of these occasions should be last thing at night, with the other taking place at another suitable time during the day.
Night-time brushing is particularly important because saliva production decreases while you sleep. Saliva helps neutralise acids and protect the teeth, so removing plaque and food debris before bed supports the mouth during this period.
Avoid eating or drinking anything containing sugar after brushing at night. Plain water is the safest drink if you become thirsty.
Which Toothbrush Should You Use?
Both manual and electric toothbrushes can clean teeth effectively. The best option is one that you can use comfortably to reach every surface of every tooth.
For most adults, a suitable toothbrush will have:
- A small or compact head
- Soft or medium bristles
- A handle that is comfortable to control
- Rounded bristle ends
A smaller head can make it easier to clean the back teeth and other awkward areas. Hard bristles are not usually necessary and may irritate the gums when combined with excessive pressure.
Manual Toothbrushes
A manual toothbrush can provide effective cleaning when used carefully and systematically. Use short, controlled movements and make sure the bristles reach the junction between each tooth and the gum.
Avoid aggressive horizontal scrubbing. Pressing harder does not necessarily remove more plaque and may cause the bristles to bend away from the areas you are trying to clean.
Electric Toothbrushes
Some people find an electric toothbrush easier to use, particularly if it includes a two-minute timer or pressure sensor.
Electric brushes move the bristles for you, so they should not normally be scrubbed backwards and forwards like a manual brush. Guide the head slowly from one tooth to the next, allowing it time to clean the outer, inner and biting surfaces.
Follow the instructions supplied with your particular toothbrush because the recommended movement may differ between models.
How Much Fluoride Should Your Toothpaste Contain?
Most adults should use a toothpaste containing at least 1,350 parts per million of fluoride. The concentration is normally displayed on the packaging using the abbreviation “ppm”.
Fluoride helps protect the teeth against decay by supporting the replacement of minerals lost during acid attacks. It can also help slow or control very early decay before a physical cavity develops.
Some people at increased risk of decay may be prescribed toothpaste containing a higher fluoride concentration. Only use prescription toothpaste according to the directions provided by your dentist.
How to Brush Every Tooth Surface
It is easy to concentrate on the front teeth and unintentionally miss other areas. Following the same sequence each time can help you clean your mouth more consistently.
- Start with the outside surfaces of the upper teeth.
- Continue around the mouth until every upper tooth has been cleaned.
- Repeat the process on the lower teeth.
- Clean the inside surfaces facing the tongue and roof of the mouth.
- Brush the biting surfaces of the back teeth.
- Pay particular attention to the gum line and the teeth at the very back.
Make sure the bristles reach the area where each tooth meets the gum. Plaque commonly collects here and can contribute to bleeding or inflammation.
Two minutes is a useful general guide, but someone with braces, implants, gum disease or complex dental work may need longer to clean thoroughly.
How Much Pressure Should You Apply?
You only need enough pressure to keep the bristles in contact with the teeth and gum line. Heavy scrubbing can cause the bristles to flatten and may contribute to gum irritation or wear around the necks of the teeth.
Possible signs that you are brushing too hard include:
- Brush bristles becoming splayed within a few weeks
- Soreness after brushing
- Gums beginning to recede
- Notches developing near the gum line
- Increasing tooth sensitivity
An electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor may help, but changing your technique is still important. A dentist or hygienist can show you how much pressure to use.
Should You Brush Your Gums?
The gum line needs to be cleaned, but the gums should not be scrubbed aggressively. Position the bristles so they clean the edge of the tooth and gently reach the area where plaque collects beside the gum.
Healthy gums should not regularly bleed during careful brushing. Persistent bleeding can be a sign of inflammation, often caused by plaque that has remained around the gum line.
Do not stop cleaning an area simply because it bleeds. Continue gently and arrange dental advice if the bleeding persists, becomes worse or is accompanied by swelling or discomfort.
Further advice about protecting your teeth and gums is available through the practice’s preventative dentistry services.
Should You Brush Your Tongue?
Bacteria and debris can collect on the tongue and contribute to bad breath. You can clean it gently using your toothbrush or a suitable tongue cleaner.
Start towards the back of the tongue and move forwards without applying excessive pressure. Stop if cleaning causes pain, bleeding or persistent irritation.
Tongue cleaning can support a fresh mouth, but it will not resolve bad breath caused by tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth or another underlying condition.
Spit After Brushing, but Do Not Rinse
After brushing, spit out the excess toothpaste rather than rinsing your mouth immediately with water.
Rinsing washes away the concentrated fluoride left on the teeth and reduces the time it can continue providing protection.
You do not need to leave a large amount of toothpaste in your mouth. Spitting out the excess without following it with water is sufficient.
When Should You Use Mouthwash?
Mouthwash does not replace toothbrushing or interdental cleaning. It may provide additional support when an appropriate product is recommended, but it should not be used to compensate for missed brushing.
Avoid using mouthwash immediately after brushing because it can wash away the fluoride left by your toothpaste. Use it at a different time, such as after lunch, if your dentist or hygienist has advised you to use one.
Some medicated mouthwashes are designed for short-term treatment and can cause staining or other side effects when used incorrectly. Follow the directions provided rather than using them indefinitely.
Why Brushing Alone Is Not Always Enough
A toothbrush cleans the outside, inside and biting surfaces of the teeth, but it may not reach the narrow spaces between them.
Plaque left between teeth can contribute to gum inflammation and decay. Cleaning these areas once a day with floss or interdental brushes can support a more complete oral hygiene routine.
Using Dental Floss
Guide the floss gently between the teeth rather than snapping it against the gum. Curve it around the side of one tooth to form a C shape, then move it carefully up and down.
Repeat the process against the neighbouring tooth before moving to the next space. The aim is to clean the tooth surfaces, not simply pull floss through the contact point.
Using Interdental Brushes
Interdental brushes can be useful where there is enough space between the teeth. The brush should fit snugly without being forced.
You may need several sizes because the spaces can vary around your mouth. A dentist or hygienist can recommend suitable sizes and demonstrate the correct technique.
Clean between the teeth before brushing if possible. This can remove plaque and debris before fluoride toothpaste is applied.
What Is the Difference Between Plaque and Tartar?
Plaque is a soft, sticky bacterial film that forms continually on the teeth. Effective brushing and interdental cleaning can usually remove it at home.
If plaque is not removed, minerals in saliva can cause it to harden into tartar, which is also known as calculus. Tartar cannot normally be removed with a toothbrush.
A dentist or hygienist removes tartar using suitable professional instruments. It does not automatically require drilling, and it should not be scraped away using household tools because this could damage the teeth and gums.
Common Toothbrushing Mistakes
Even people who brush twice daily may leave plaque behind because of small problems with their routine.
Common mistakes include:
- Brushing for only a few seconds
- Missing the inside surfaces of the teeth
- Ignoring the gum line
- Applying excessive pressure
- Using a badly worn toothbrush
- Rinsing immediately after brushing
- Using mouthwash straight after toothpaste
- Never cleaning between the teeth
- Eating sugary food after brushing at night
Rather than trying to brush more aggressively, concentrate on cleaning systematically and giving each area enough time.
How Often Should You Replace Your Toothbrush?
Replace a manual toothbrush or electric brush head around every three months, or earlier if the bristles become bent, flattened or splayed.
A worn brush may not clean the tooth surfaces and gum line as effectively. Bristles that become damaged unusually quickly can also indicate that you are applying too much pressure.
When Should You Ask for Professional Advice?
Improving your brushing technique can help control plaque, but it cannot repair a cavity, cracked tooth or damaged filling.
Arrange dental advice if you notice:
- Persistent bleeding or swollen gums
- Toothache or pain when biting
- Ongoing sensitivity
- Gum recession
- A loose filling or crown
- Persistent bad breath
- An adult tooth becoming loose
- Plaque that remains despite careful cleaning
Your dental team can check whether there is an underlying problem and show you which areas are being missed. Information about examinations and routine treatment is available on the general dentistry page.
Ask for Toothbrushing Advice in Selby
Effective brushing relies on consistency rather than force. Brush every surface twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily and spit rather than rinsing afterwards.
If you are unsure whether your current toothbrush or technique is suitable, Park Street Dental Practice can provide advice based on your teeth and gums.
To ask about your oral health or arrange an appointment in Selby, visit the contact page.
