Brushing your teeth properly will help prevent conditions such asgingivitis(gum disease) and tooth decay.

There’s a right way to brush your teeth and steps to complete the task.

Young kids should use a product with 1,000 parts per million of fluoride.

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It’s recommended that people age 7 and older use a concentration of 1,000 ppm to 1,500 ppm fluoride.

Talk with your dental professional about the use of high-fluoride prescription items.

Point the bristles toward the gum line at a 45-degree angle.

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Brush using short, circular motions for approximately 20 seconds.

Some studies find that people think being more attentive to brushing their teeth means taking more time.

Technique and angle also matter.

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Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the inside surfaces of the upper and lower molars.

In one study, some 10% of people didn’t brush the inside of their teeth and all.

Direct the bristles toward the gum line and use a flicking motion down the surface of the tooth.

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Repeat this two or three times for a more thorough cleaning.

Repeat this step two or three more times.

Don’t hesitate to help kids with these steps.

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Just like your teeth, they deserve a good cleaning.

Your oral health can affect other organs and health issues.

Some people may need to pay extra attention to their teeth.

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Avoid a Rinse

Some people wrap up with a rinse, using water ormouthwash.

But 2024 guidelines from dental professionals recommend that you avoid a rinse.

To maintain fluoride levels, spit out the toothpaste but don’t wash out your mouth.

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American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.

2024 Jun;74(3):526-535. doi:10.1016/j.identj.2023.10.018.

Weik U, Shankar-Subramanian S, Samann T, Wostmann B, Margraf-Stiksrud J,et al.

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2023 Jul 6;23(1):456. doi:10.1186/s12903-023-03127-3

Carroll A.More than clean teeth!

Identifying factors that contribute to the development of early childhood caries.Evid Based Dent.

2024 Mar 15;15(3):318-325. doi:10.4239/wjd.v15.i3.318

American Dental Association.Flossing.

brushing teeth

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Harvard Health Publishing.What’s the right way to brush your teeth?