Spoiler: Healthy and beautiful teeth are about more than just your toothbrush or toothpaste.
From a young age, we were taught that the golden rule for brushing teeth is three minutes. Some people brush only at night and just use a toothbrush because they believe it's "enough." Truth is, if you want healthy teeth and mouth, you can't be indifferent about this ritual.
In the following texts, you'll learn how to build an effective toothbrushing routine, expert recommendations, and product tips that will level up your oral hygiene game.
Product prices and availability are current at the time of writing and may change over time.
1. Understand what skipping toothbrushing can cause
This is especially for those who skip regular brushing — because besides bad breath, you risk health issues. Everything you eat and drink gets stuck between your teeth or clings to your enamel. These leftovers turn into plaque, and if left too long, it hardens into tartar, which can't be removed.
"Inside tartar are bacteria that release acids causing cavities, disrupting enamel, and creating tunnels inside the tooth towards the nerve and jawbone, leading to infections if untreated. From there, bacteria can reach other body parts including the brain, heart, and lungs," says Dr. Tien Jiang, prosthodontist at the Department of Oral Health and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Not to mention, in extreme cases, gum irritation can lead to tooth loss.
2. Choosing a toothbrush + proper technique
You've got plenty of toothbrush options: with plastic bristles, natural bristles, soft, hard, rotating, vibrating, and more. Experts say it’s not about the type of toothbrush, but how you use it.
However, if you have sensitive teeth and gums, definitely go for a softer bristle brush. If not, you can opt for firmer bristles.
It’s generally recommended to replace your toothbrush every 3 – 4 months or when the bristles are dirty or frayed (like a spread-out broom).
As we mentioned above, it’s not the brush but how you use it. Experts recommend brushing your teeth twice a day with toothpaste for about two minutes — one minute for the upper teeth, one for the lower.
It’s important to use the toothbrush at an angle. "The bristles should be angled towards the gums where they meet the teeth, which is where plaque and tartar gather. You don't want the bristles perpendicular to the teeth at a 90-degree angle, but at a 45-degree angle," says Dr. Jiang.
Move the bristles in gentle circles to catch all the dirt along the gum line. Never brush your teeth too hard — it can irritate your gums and cause bleeding.
@joycethedentist Back to basics : how to brush with a manual toothbrush ❤️ #brushyourteeth #toothbrush #electrictoothbrush #howtobrushyourteeth ♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) - 山口夕依
🛒 Add to your cart
- MEDIBLANC 5490 Ultra Soft Limited Edition – Toothbrushes with soft bristles. (€10.20)
- Philips Sonicare 3100 HX3671/13 – Sonic electric toothbrush. (€44.20)
3. Fluoride is key
Like toothbrushes, there are a "million" kinds of toothpaste, whether based on formula, taste, or effect. But experts agree: your routine should include fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride helps prevent cavities by increasing enamel resistance to acids. It also reverses early dental decay. Look for ingredients like sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, or sodium monofluorophosphate on the package.
In other words, fluoride should be a key ingredient in your toothpaste. However, if you're looking for a whitening effect, search for components like silica, pyrophosphates, hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide, which remove stains and lighten tooth color.
🛒 Add to your cart:
- ELMEX Opti-namel professional toothpaste 75 ml – Fluoride toothpaste. It remineralizes weakened enamel spots with Micro-Sealing technology. (€5.29)
- BlanX Intensive Stain Removal – Whitening toothpaste with 100% natural bamboo extract, Arctic moss, and silica. (€5.20)
4. Interdental brush, floss, and scraper are more important than you think
The routine shouldn't end with just a toothbrush and toothpaste. To ensure your mouth is really clean, you need to follow a few additional steps.
Experts recommend using an interdental brush before brushing and floss at least once a day. This helps remove food residues and plaque between teeth and along the gum line, areas toothpaste doesn't usually reach. It also reduces the chance of gum soreness, swelling, and redness.
An alternative is a water flosser, which is more effective than regular floss in cleaning interdental spaces.
@doctor.renae Top 5 Water Flosser Mistakes 1️⃣ Aiming at your teeth instead of along the gumline, angle it 90° to clean under the gum and not just blast your teeth. 2️⃣ Not closing your mouth around the tip, unless you want water all over your mirror 😂 3️⃣ Rushing through, it should take at least 60–90 seconds to go tooth by tooth. 4️⃣ Cranking up the pressure too soon — start low and work your way up. 5️⃣ Leaving water sitting in the tank — empty and air-dry after each use to avoid bacteria buildup. And don’t forget to floss with traditional floss and brush after! Do it right and your gums will thank you. • #gumdisease #waterpik #oralhealth #waterflosser #flosslikeapro ♬ original sound - Renae Sweeney
Many people don't realize the importance of a tongue scraper, which effectively removes coating, food residues, and odor-causing bacteria. The technique is crucial — scrape from the back of the tongue to the front.
Don’t forget mouthwash. Just 30 seconds of rinsing gives you fresh breath, extra protection against gum disease and cavities, and helps reduce bacteria.
🛒 Add to your cart:
- Curaprox Prime Start – Interdental brushes. (€6.97)
- Elmex Caries Protection – Mint-flavored dental floss. (€5.60)
- Philips Sonicare HX3826/33 – Water flosser with three intensity levels. (€94.90)
- Curaprox Tongue Cleaner CTC 201 – Tongue scraper. (€3.14)
- LACALUT Aktiv mouthwash 300 ml – Mouthwash for daily prevention against inflammation, cavities, and plaque. (€5.79)
