Brushing your teeth removes bits of food and plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless mix of bacteria and sugars. It sticks to our teeth in a thin layer, and if it isn't removed, the bacteria can cause cavities and gum disease. Plaque left on the teeth hardens into tartar, also called calculus, in as little as 48 hours. Tartar can causegum disease, and sometimes even tooth loss. Soon after plaque turns into tartar, you won't be able to remove it with your toothbrush—only your hygienist or dentist can remove it. Show What kind of toothbrush should you use?Keeping your smile healthy starts with your toothbrush. Choose a brush with soft bristles that's comfortable to hold. Soft bristles are gentler on your teeth and gums. Look for a toothbrush with a shape that can reach all parts of your mouth. 7 Steps for Brushing SuccessBrush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Let the bristles do the work instead of squashing the brush against your teeth, move slowly and gently across the surface of every tooth. Heidi Godman is the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter. Before coming to the Health Letter, she was an award-winning television news anchor and medical reporter for 25 years. Heidi was named a journalism fellow … See Full Bio Print This Page Click to Print Disclaimer:As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. If you're like most people, you probably learned how to brush as a child… and chances are, you haven't thought about it much since then. That's understandable — but there may come a point when we find our oral hygiene techniques could use improvement. Here are a few tips on the proper way to brush your teeth… plus, a reminder of why we do it. First, the reasons why: Brushing is an effective way to remove plaque — a sticky, bacteria-laden biofilm that clings stubbornly to your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce acids, which erode the tooth's enamel and may lead to tooth decay. Plaque can also cause gum disease and bad breath. In fact, it's believed that over 90% of dental disease is caused by plaque accumulation alone. Besides removing plaque, the fluoride in toothpaste strengthens tooth enamel and makes teeth more decay-resistant. Plus, brushing makes your mouth feel cleaner and your breath smell fresher. While there is no single “right” way to brush your teeth, there are a number of techniques that can help you get them squeaky-clean. So why wait — let's take a refresher course in brushing right now! Proper Brushing Technique
Check Your WorkHow good a brushing job did you do? One way to get an idea is by simply running your tongue over your teeth: If they feel slick and smooth, then chances are they're clean. If not, you should try again. To know for sure whether you're brushing effectively, you can use a “disclosing solution” — a special dye that highlights plaque and debris your brushing missed. One common error is not brushing for long enough: two minutes is about the minimum time you need to do a thorough job. If you have music in the bathroom, you could try brushing along with a pop song; when the song's over, you're done! But no matter your musical taste, good brushing technique can go a long way toward maintaining tip-top oral hygiene. Related Articles Toothpaste It's something we put in our mouths every day. Yet for those who actually take the time to read that list of ingredients, it can be hard to figure out what it all means. Dear Doctor magazine breaks it all down and reveals a great way to be sure the claims written on the label can be trusted... Read Article Oral Hygiene Behavior — Dental Health for Life The best tools for maintaining your oral health and minimizing dental problems are a quality toothbrush, toothpaste, a roll of dental floss, approved mouthwash and good diet. This article details a winning game plan for oral health... Read Article Dental Hygiene Visit There's a lot more going on at your regular dental hygiene visit than a feel-good polishing! Dental hygienists collaborate with dentists to provide optimum personalized oral health care to prevent oral disease and to promote your health... Read Article Should you brush the inside of your teeth?How to brush your teeth. Make sure you clean all the surfaces of all your teeth, which should take about 2 minutes. Remember to brush the inside surfaces, outside surfaces and the chewing surfaces of your teeth.
How do you brush underneath your gum line?Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle so you can get the bristles slightly under your gum line. This will help brush out the bacteria and plaque buildup between your teeth and gums. You should be using a soft-bristled toothbrush while brushing as your gums can be sensitive.
How do you brush behind your front teeth?Brush behind the upper front teeth
Brush the lingual, or back surface of the upper front teeth by using the tip of the toothbrush head. Direct the bristles toward the gum line and use a flicking motion down the surface of the tooth. Repeat this two or three times for a more thorough clean.
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How to brush the inside of your teeth
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