A quick guide on how to brush your teeth properly

Jun 12, 2015

For something that is such a fixed part of our daily routine, it is amazing just how many of us get it wrong.

It is almost so second nature that we don’t really give it too much thought. The problem with this is if we become complacent with our routine or get lazy, we may not be giving our teeth the proper care that they need which can lead to problems such as cavities and gum disease.

So, instead of filling our mouths with nasty, painful fillings, let’s take a look at the simple way to brush our teeth properly.

It only takes two minutes

Two minutes is the correct amount of time each person needs to spend per teeth brushing session. You’re probably thinking “I always take two minutes to brush my teeth,” but you’d be surprised. The majority of people don’t spend nearly this amount of time, even when they think they do. Try using a watch or phone to make sure you are actually taking two minutes.

45-degree angle

Most of us start brushing across our teeth in wide, side-to-side strokes. But this can actually damage them and cause scrapes along the gum line. Instead, hold the brush at a 45-degree angle and use short up-and-down strokes.

Mix it up

Out of sheer force of habit, we all generally tend to start brushing our teeth in the same place every time. The problem here is that a lot of us get bored and taper off towards the end of the process, meaning that there are certain spots in our mouth that are being neglected every time. Try starting from a different place every time you brush your teeth and it’ll make sure you get them all.

Too much is not good

The HSE recommended that we brush our teeth at least twice a day. However, any more than three times and you may start to wear down the enamel on your teeth.

Brush your tongue

Sometimes after we brush our teeth there can often still be a bad taste left in our mouths. This is because our tongues are the main cause of bad breath. So, when you have finished your brushing regime, gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen breath.