Improve your dental care

Five ways to improve your oral health — choose what works for you and stick with it.

You brush your teeth. That is good. But did you know there are easy ways to do it even better? And that every small improvement makes a visible difference?

The good news is: you do not have to change everything at once. Every step you take is a step forward. And when your dentist measures again, you will see the difference.

Where do you start?

Suppose you currently brush once a day with a manual toothbrush. That is your starting point. From here there are several paths — all equally good. There is no single best way. Every path is an improvement.

Choose what suits you. What feels easy. What you think you can keep up.

Option 1: Brush twice a day

Instead of once, brush twice a day — morning and evening, with your manual toothbrush.

Why does this work? You give plaque less chance to build up. The bacteria are disrupted twice a day instead of once.[1]

Option 2: Use an electric toothbrush once a day

You keep brushing once a day, but now with an electric toothbrush.

Why does this work? An electric toothbrush removes more plaque on average than a manual one.[2,3] The brush does the work for you — you just hold it in the right place.

Option 3: Brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush

You switch to an electric toothbrush and also brush twice a day.

Why does this work? You combine the best of both worlds: more plaque removed and done more often. Your teeth will find it easy.[4]

Option 4: Keep brushing as now + start interdental cleaning

You keep brushing as you do now. But you also start cleaning the spaces between your teeth — with interdental brushes, floss or picks.

Why does this work? About 40 percent of your tooth surface is between your teeth.[5] Your toothbrush cannot reach there. By cleaning those areas you tackle a large amount of plaque you would otherwise miss.

Note: Interdental cleaning is not for everyone. If there is no swollen, irritated or bleeding gum tissue, interdental cleaning may not be the first priority.[6] Also for baby teeth, teenagers and young adults it is only recommended on indication. Check with your dentist or dental hygienist first.

Option 5: Clean between your teeth every single day

You make it a daily habit to clean between your teeth — every day, whether with brushes, floss or picks.

Why does this work? Most plaque sits between the teeth.[7] Cleaning there every day removes what would otherwise remain. Check with your dentist whether this is suitable for you.

It does not matter which option you choose

That is the beauty of it. Brushes, floss, picks — they all work. Interdental brushes are often most effective when there is space between the teeth.[8] Floss works well in tight spaces. Picks are easy and quick.

Choose what you enjoy. Because the point is that you do it. Every day.

Why small steps?

You might think: "I will just do everything at once! Electric brushing, twice a day, and interdental cleaning too!" You can. But do you know what often happens? After a week you find it too much. You stop. And then you are back to square one.

One change you keep up is better than two or three changes you abandon after a week.

Start with one thing. Once that becomes a habit, take the next step. That is how you build it up. And every step is progress.

Smart tips to keep it going

  • Leave brushes on your bedside table. You will use them before going to sleep. Right within reach.
  • Leave picks in your car. In a traffic jam or at a red light you can already do something useful.
  • Ask for an electric toothbrush as a gift. Birthday, Christmas, just because — it is a good gift to yourself.
  • Give an electric toothbrush to someone else. You help another person too. And it is an original gift.

When will you see results?

That is the beauty of measurements. At the next check-up you will see the difference. Scores go down. Gums bleed less. Less plaque.

That is your proof. Your small step had an effect. That motivates you to keep going.[9]

You are in charge

Nobody is going to tell you what to do. These are options. You choose what suits you.

Do you want to start with brushing twice a day? Fine. Do you prefer to try an electric toothbrush first? Also good. Do you think interdental cleaning is easiest for you? Discuss it with your dentist. If it fits your situation: excellent.

The point is that you do something better than what you do now. And that you keep it up.

Every small improvement counts

You might think: "Is it enough if I only change one thing?" Yes. It is enough. Really.

Imagine: you start with interdental cleaning. Every evening, two minutes. That is over 730 minutes per year — over 12 hours spent on areas you would otherwise never have cleaned. Do you think that makes a difference? Of course it does.

What if it doesn't work out?

That can happen. Sometimes you choose something that just doesn't fit you. Then you stop. That is not a failure. That is information: now you know this particular path is not yours. Try something else. There are plenty of options.

What matters most is that you don't give up and keep looking for what does work for you.

Look back at the five options above. Which one appeals to you? Which one feels achievable? Start there. And a few months from now you will look back and think: "That was a good decision." Because you will see it in the measurements — healthier gums, less bleeding, a cleaner mouth.

Small steps. Big gains.

Scientific references
  1. Van der Weijden FA, et al. (2005). A systematic review of the effect of self-performed mechanical plaque removal in adults with gingivitis using a manual toothbrush. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 32(Suppl 6):214-228.
  2. Yaacob M, et al. (2014). Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, (6):CD002281. "After three months, plaque was reduced by 21% and gingivitis by 11% with electric toothbrushes."
  3. Comparative study by Oral-B (2024). Powered toothbrushes generally outperform manual toothbrushes. PMC11456731.
  4. Stepka D, RDH (2023). Electric toothbrushes produce thousands of strokes per minute. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.
  5. Sunstar GUM (2025). If you don't clean between your teeth, you are missing up to 40% of your tooth surfaces.
  6. KIMO Guideline Oral Care for Youth. Interdental cleaning only situationally, when anatomy and motor skills allow.
  7. Slot DE, et al. (2008). The efficacy of interdental brushes on plaque and parameters of periodontal inflammation. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 6(4):253-264.
  8. Worthington HV, et al. (2019). Home use of interdental cleaning devices, in addition to toothbrushing. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, (4):CD012018.
  9. Zhou W, et al. (2025). Association of interdental cleaning frequency with tooth loss and self-rated oral health. International Dental Journal, 75(4):100803.

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