How to Brush Your Teeth Properly (Most People Get Three Things Wrong)

Nearly everyone brushes. A surprising number of people brush in a way that removes less plaque than they think while wearing away the teeth they are trying to protect. Three mistakes account for most of it.

Mistake one: scrubbing sideways, hard

A vigorous horizontal scrub with a hard brush does two things: it misses the plaque tucked under the gum edge, and it abrades a notch into the tooth at the gumline. Those notches are permanent, sensitive, and eventually need filling.

The correct technique — the modified Bass technique — is this: hold a soft brush at 45 degrees to the gumline, so the bristle tips point slightly under the gum edge. Use small circular or short vibrating movements, two or three teeth at a time, then sweep away from the gum. Light pressure. If your bristles splay out within a month, you are pressing far too hard.

Mistake two: not brushing for long enough

Two minutes, twice a day. Most people manage about 45 seconds and are convinced it was longer. Split the mouth into four quadrants and give each 30 seconds. Use a timer or an electric brush that has one. Do not forget the inner surfaces — the tongue side of the lower front teeth is where tartar forms first, because a salivary gland opens right there.

Mistake three: rinsing afterwards

This is the one almost nobody knows. The fluoride in toothpaste works by staying in contact with enamel after you brush. If you rinse with water, or immediately with mouthwash, you wash it straight off.

Spit, do not rinse. Spit out the excess and leave it. This single change measurably reduces decay, and it costs nothing.

The other details

• Wait after acidic food. Enamel is temporarily softened by citrus, aerated drinks and vinegar. Brushing immediately scrubs off softened enamel. Wait an hour, or rinse with plain water and wait.
• Brush before breakfast, not after, if you eat something acidic in the morning.
• Replace your brush every three months, or sooner if splayed, and after any throat infection.
• Clean your tongue — gently, back to front.
• Brushing does not clean between teeth. No technique reaches those surfaces. That needs floss or interdental brushes.

Electric or manual?

An electric brush, particularly an oscillating-rotating one, removes modestly more plaque in most studies, largely because it enforces technique and timing. A manual brush used correctly is entirely adequate. The brush matters less than the two minutes, the angle, and not rinsing.

Frequently asked questions

Should I brush before or after breakfast?

Before is generally safer, especially if breakfast includes fruit, juice or anything acidic, because enamel is softened for up to an hour afterwards. If you brush after, wait an hour.

Is a hard toothbrush better at cleaning?

No. Plaque is soft and comes off with light pressure. Hard bristles abrade enamel and cause gum recession without cleaning better. Soft is the correct choice for almost everyone.

Is mouthwash necessary?

Not for most people. If you use one, do not use it straight after brushing — it washes away the concentrated fluoride from your toothpaste. Use it at a separate time of day.

How long should a tube of toothpaste last?

You only need a pea-sized amount, and a smear for children under three. A full brush-length strip is marketing, not dentistry.

Talk to a dentist in Dehradun