The Ultimate Guide for How to Brush Your Teeth

How to Brush Your Teeth Correctly: Proper Brushing Techniques

Before we get into each step in the toothbrushing process, you need to know how to hold the toothbrush and move it across your teeth. You want to brush each quadrant of your mouth at a 45-degree angle, making sure to scrub those pearly whites and clean your gums, too. MouthHealthy at the American Dental Association (ADA) recommend using short, back-and-forth strokes to clean the outer surfaces of your teeth, then applying vertical strokes to the inner surfaces.

Why is all this important? Brushing at a 45-degree angle helps to clean your gum lines and the hard-to-reach places all around your mouth. Plaque and calculus tend to collect where the gums meet the teeth, and brushing at 45 degrees more effectively cleans those areas than if you are perpendicular when you scrub with the bristles.

Do You Brush or Floss First?

Past studies have suggested that flossing before brushing helps remove plaque more effectively than the opposite order, particularly between the teeth and in hard-to-reach areas. If flossing isn’t part of your daily oral hygiene routine, it’s time to change that ASAP!

Step-by-Step Guide for How to Brush Teeth

Now that you understand proper brushing techniques for effective teeth cleaning, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty. We’re going to walk you through each step of the toothbrushing process so you can keep a consistent and regular routine—remember, you want to brush twice per day!

1. Use the Right Amount of Toothpaste

Adding more toothpaste to your brush will not help to get your teeth and gums cleaner. You want to avoid doing just that.

The American Dentist Association (ADA) recommends that adults and children 3-6 years of age use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste when brushing teeth. Babies and children below the age of 3 should use a smear (about the size of a grain of rice ) of toothpaste when the first tooth erupts.

You should also use a fluoride toothpaste and one that is less abrasive (though you should give your infant or baby a non-fluoride toothpaste until they are 6 months old), which can help to protect tooth enamel and prevent abrasion. The Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) cannot be found on every tube, so you might want to do a little research before purchasing. Or, you could turn to the baking soda formulas in ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes, which are less abrasive than other leading toothpastes**.

2. Brush the Outer Surfaces of Your Teeth by Quadrants

While there’s some debate about whether to wet your toothpaste before brushing, the ADA does not provide any official recommendation. So, let’s skip over that aspect and get right to the brushing, shall we? You want to start by brushing the outer surfaces of your teeth, holding the brush at a 45-degree angle, and using the short, back-and-forth strokes we mentioned earlier.

The ADA recommends brushing for two minutes, so it’s a good idea to break your mouth into four quadrants and spend equal time on each quadrant, also accounting for brushing the back of your teeth. So, you might brush each quadrant for 15 seconds to add up to 1 minute for the outer surfaces, leaving the second minute for the back of those chompers.

3. Brush the Inner Surfaces

Once you’ve cleaned the outer surfaces, it’s time to address the back of your teeth. You might be worried about the outer surfaces and keeping that side of your teeth clean so you have a nice smile. But plaque can still collect on the inner surfaces and lead to cavities if left unchecked.

So, make sure to clean the inner surfaces. Hold the brush vertically and apply the toothpaste to each inner tooth surface with several up-and-down strokes.

4. Don’t Forget the Tongue

You know how to properly clean your teeth and gums. That’s all you need, right? Wrong. You should also consider taking some time to brush your tongue.

Your tongue plays host to countless naturally occurring bacteria. Some of these bacteria can contribute to bad breath. But you can help to prevent bad breath and limit tongue coating by brushing your tongue.

While you “chew” on that information, we’ll also add that it’s a good idea to use a toothpaste that can help kill bad breath bacteria* throughout your mouth, such as ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpaste Plus TheraBreath Breath Fresheners ! This anticavity fluoride toothpaste helps target plaque, tartar, and set-in stains with an invigorating Icy Mint favor for lasting freshness.

5. Spit it Out!

Although it might seem obvious, you want to spit out all the excess toothpaste after cleaning your teeth, gums, and tongue to avoid ingesting fluoride. You should also try to spit out as much as possible. And, if you can, avoid rinsing with water or mouthwash for at least 25 minutes. This will allow the fluoride to do its work and create something of a protective shield layer for your teeth.

6. Rinse Your Toothbrush & Store it Upright

While there isn’t any specific guidance on rinsing your toothbrush before you brush your teeth, you definitely want to rinse it after you finish brushing. Doing so will help remove any remaining toothpaste and debris.

Additionally, the ADA recommends storing your toothbrushes in an upright position and allowing them to air dry. Keeping your moist toothbrush in an enclosed space can encourage microbial growth. If you’re teaching your kids to brush their teeth, you might consider supplying them with a separate cup or holder as a storage container to help normalize this part of the process.

When Should You Brush Your Teeth?

Brushing your teeth when you or your kids first wake up is a good idea because it helps address the bacteria buildup that occurs in our mouths overnight. Additionally, brushing before bed can help to remove lingering food debris you have accumulated throughout the day.

Keep a Clean Routine with ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes!

Now that you know how to brush your teeth and the steps you need to take for thorough cleanings, you’re probably for a toothpaste that’s up to the task! Whether you’re looking for advanced whitening, plaque removal, or all-mouth protection, ARM & HAMMER™ has a variety of formulas to choose from, including:

Find the right formula for you or your kids so you can help maintain teeth and gums, and remember the steps for how to brush correctly to keep your chompers looking clean!