Manual toothbrushing
Good technique. Good timing. A good finish.
On this page:
- → How long should you brush?
- → The technique step by step
- → The new brushing method: wet, brush, rinse, spit
- → Three things most people can improve
- → Manual or electric?
How long do you actually brush?
Most people brush for less than a minute. To clean everything properly, it is important to brush for longer.
Brush for at least two minutes. It feels long at first, but you get used to it quickly. Use a timer on your phone. That is the easiest improvement you can make.
Brush in a fixed order: upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right. Brush each section for 30 seconds. That way you will not skip anything. You can choose a different order if you prefer, as long as you always follow the same one.
The technique
Hold the brush at an angle. The bristles point towards the gum line, at about 45 degrees. Use small circular movements or short back-and-forth strokes. Brush gently.
- Always brush the outer surface, inner surface, and chewing surface of every tooth.
- The inner surfaces of the lower back teeth are often the hardest to reach.
- Soft bristles clean better than hard ones. They reach further along the gum line.
The new brushing method: four steps
You can make your existing way of brushing even more effective. The fluoride in your toothpaste keeps working for longer afterwards.
- Wet your toothbrush with water before adding toothpaste.
- Brush for two minutes. Divide your mouth into 4 sections: upper left, upper right, lower left, lower right. Brush each section for 30 seconds. Brush gently and methodically.
- Take a small sip of water. Swish for one minute with the mixture of water and the toothpaste already in your mouth. Move it actively around all your teeth.
- Spit everything out. Do not rinse your mouth with water afterwards.
Why not rinse? The fluoride in your toothpaste protects your enamel. Rinsing with water washes that protection away. By leaving the toothpaste in your mouth, the fluoride keeps working for a while longer.
Three things most people can improve
Pressing too hard.
Scrubbing harder does not remove more plaque. It wears down your enamel instead. Use so little pressure that the bristles barely bend.
Brushing for too short a time.
Most people stop too soon. Two minutes is enough to cover everything. A timer takes the guesswork out of it.
Rinsing with water afterwards.
Many people do this automatically. But it washes away the fluoride. Spit out and leave it at that.
Manual or electric?
Manual brushing is perfectly fine. An electric toothbrush removes slightly more plaque on average, even with imperfect technique. But a good manual brush used for two minutes is already a big improvement over what most people currently do.
Not sure about your technique? Your dentist or dental hygienist can show you in five minutes how to get the best results.
mijngebit.info is not a medical device. If in doubt, consult your dentist.