How to Brush Your Teeth Properly

There are a million ways to kill a cat, but there’s only one way to brush your teeth properly, and here are the five easy steps on how to do it:

Wet your toothbrush with water and squeeze a pea-sized fluoridated toothpaste on the bristles.
Starting from the front surfaces of your teeth, angle the head of your toothbrush at 45 degrees, making sure that you are brushing even the gumline, in a circular manner.
Proceed brushing the inner surfaces of your teeth in the same circular manner, including the gumline.
Next, brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth using the same strokes or in a sweeping manner to get rid of any debris on this surface.
Spit the excess toothpaste and suds.

What is the proper way to brush your teeth?

To ensure that you brush your teeth properly, there are three essential items you need: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and water. Let’s break down the role of each item:

Toothbrush: A toothbrush is a tool specifically designed to clean your teeth. It typically consists of a handle and a brush head with bristles. The bristles are designed to remove plaque and food particles from your teeth, gums, and tongue when properly used.

Toothpaste: Toothpaste is a specially formulated oral care product that enhances the cleaning process. It typically contains active ingredients, such as fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay and strengthen enamel. Toothpaste also contains abrasives that aid in removing plaque and stains from the tooth surface.

Water: Water is essential for various reasons during toothbrushing. Firstly, it helps wet the toothbrush bristles, allowing the toothpaste to foam and spread easily. Water also acts as a rinsing agent to wash away the toothpaste, debris, and bacteria from your mouth after brushing. Additionally, staying hydrated by drinking water is crucial for overall oral health.

Now that you have these three items, you can follow these general steps for proper toothbrushing:

1. Wet your toothbrush bristles with water.

2. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the bristles.

3. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your teeth and gumline.

4. Using gentle, circular motions, brush all surfaces of your teeth, including the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces.

Pay attention to each tooth, spending about 2 minutes brushing your entire mouth.

5. Spit excess toothpaste.

6. Rinse your toothbrush with water and store it in an upright position to air dry.

Should I rinse after brushing

No, you should not rinse after brushing. The reason behind this is that you want to keep the toothbrush on the surfaces of your teeth to maximize the beneficial effects of its components on your teeth.

Instead of treating toothpaste as a ‘soap’ for your mouth, treat it as if it is nail polish that will help keep your teeth clean and protected.

I know that it might not be comfortable for some of us that are not used to having the taste of toothpaste last inside our mouths, but you can just spit the excess toothpaste to lessen suds inside the oral cavity.

What are 5 tips for proper brushing of your teeth?

Be Thorough

Each tooth has five surfaces on them that you have to clean every time you brush but that doesn’t end there. You have to include the gum line, the tongue, the palate, the inside of your cheeks, and every corner inside your mouth that your toothbrush could possibly reach.

The 2-Minute Rule

A study conducted by DE Slot et. al have shown that there is a significant reduction in plaque index levels after 2 minutes of manual brushing. This means that the plaque in your tooth is more thoroughly removed if your brushing duration is at least 2 minutes.

However, it is not recommended that patients brush longer than 2 minutes because beyond this duration might cause trauma to the soft tissues and abrade the surfaces of the teeth.

Circular Strokes

You have to brush your teeth in a circular manner to prevent abrading your teeth. This way, you also make sure that the surfaces of your teeth are cleaned, including the gum line.

In Conclusion

To brush your teeth properly is crucial for maintaining good oral hygiene and preventing dental problems. By following the recommended steps, which include having the necessary tools (toothbrush, toothpaste, and water), using the right technique (angled brushing, circular strokes), and dedicating sufficient time (2 minutes), you can effectively remove plaque, food particles, and bacteria from your teeth and gums.

Additionally, avoiding rinsing your mouth immediately after brushing allows the toothpaste’s beneficial components, like fluoride, to continue protecting your teeth. Remember, thorough and regular brushing is a simple yet effective way to protect your teeth and maintain a healthy smile.