How To Brush Your Teeth

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: When to brush

You should brush your teeth twice a day, to keep them and your gums healthy. This removes the plaque from your teeth, prevents bad breath, cavities, gum disease and keeps your mouth healthy.

Step 3: Rinse your toothbrush

Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly in case any bacteria has built up on it since the last time you used it.

Step 4: Put on the toothpaste

For children put a smear of toothpaste on the toothbrush and adults a pea sized blob.

Step 5: Brush the teeth

Hold the brush at a slight angle to the gums.

Move the brush in small circular motions across the surface of the teeth. Don't press too hard on the teeth, or you could damage your gums.

Make sure that you cover the front of the teeth
and the back of the teeth.

Use the top of the brush in an up and down movement to clean the back of the front teeth

Step 6: Get round the back

It's very important to make sure you clean the back teeth thoroughly. You might have to pull out your cheek a little to get a better angle.

Step 7: Bad breath

Use the brush to lightly sweep the tongue too. Bacteria can gather here and this is what causes bad breath.

Step 8: Dispensing tablet

To check whether you have done a thorough job, use a dispensing tablet. Chew on it, until it's fully dissolved. Then look at yourself in the mirror.
It attaches itself to bacteria and plaque so you can see if there's any left.
Brush the areas where the plaque is now visible.
If you do this over a few days you will see if you tend to miss certain areas.

Step 9: Spit

When you have finished brushing your teeth, spit the toothpaste out. Don't rinse out your mouth. It's better to leave the residue on your teeth to protect them.

Step 10: Finish off

Once a day you should also floss your teeth. See Video Jug 'How to floss your teeth'. If you like, use a mouth wash too, to really strengthen your teeth.

Step 11: WARNING

If your gums bleed a lot when you brush your teeth, see your dentist right away. No matter how good your brushing is, you should visit your dentist for a check-up twice a year.