As far as difficult tasks go, brushing your teeth doesn’t seem like one of them. After all, you’ve been doing it since you were little (we hope). And yet, it’s easier than you think to make tooth brushing mistakes, putting your oral hygiene—and your smile—at risk.
How to Brush your Teeth
The American Dental Association recommends brushing for two minutes, but many people fall woefully short—and don’t even realize it. To take out the guesswork, use an electric toothbrush that beeps when you’ve reached two minutes, or use a timer on your phone or an egg timer.
- Once you have finished flossing, run water over your toothbrush and apply a thin strip of toothpaste containing fluoride.
- Start with your upper molars (back teeth) on your right side and work in a clockwise direction.
- Point the bristles toward the gumline, in a 45-degree angle. Use a short circular motion for approximately 10 seconds.
- After 10 seconds, roll the brush head away from the gumline, so the bristles sweep the surface of the tooth, removing the food and plaque.
- Continue working in a clockwise direction, ending with the lower molars on your right side. Repeat step two and three for the inside surface of the upper and lower molars.
- Brush the lingual (back) surface of the upper-front teeth by using the tip of the toothbrush head. Direct the bristles toward the gumline, and use a flicking motion down the surface of the tooth. Do this 2 to 3 times.
- Point the bristles of the tip of the toothbrush toward the gumline. Flick the bristles up, away from the gumline in a sweeping motion. Do this 2 to 3 times.
- Brush the biting surface of the upper and lower premolars and molars, using a circular motion.
- Using a gentle circular motion, brush your tongue for 10 seconds and the inside of your cheeks for 10 seconds.
- Finish by rinsing with water
