How to brush your teeth properly: step by step

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To brush your teeth properly, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, angle the bristles at 45 degrees toward the gums, use short, gentle strokes on every surface of each tooth, brush your tongue, take about two minutes and finish by flossing. Do this at least twice a day, paying special attention to your nighttime brushing.

In clinical practice, it's common to see people who brush every day and still have bleeding gums, tartar or stains near the gumline. The problem is almost never how often they brush, but their technique: too much pressure, a hard toothbrush, rushing, missed areas and skipping floss. Small adjustments usually make a big difference within a few weeks.

Dr. Cléo Salustiano (CRO-SP 170844), a dentist in Mooca, explains below the step-by-step for brushing, the most common mistakes, how to adapt your routine if you have braces, veneers or implants, and when brushing at home is no longer enough.

This article comes from Dr. Cléo Salustiano's dental office in Mooca, São Paulo (care in English, Portuguese and Spanish). See the dental cleaning page to learn how the treatment is done here and book your assessment.

Step by step

1. Use the right toothbrush and toothpaste. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Soft bristles clean well without hurting your gums.
2. Hold the brush at 45°. Angle the toothbrush at 45 degrees toward the gumline — that's where plaque builds up the most.
3. Use short, gentle strokes. Brush with short, gentle strokes, without pressing hard. Too much pressure doesn't clean better and can hurt your gums and wear down your teeth.
4. Cover every tooth surface. Brush the outer, inner and chewing surfaces of each tooth, dividing your mouth into sections so you don't miss any area.
5. Brush your tongue too. Gently run the toothbrush over your tongue to remove bacteria and help with your breath.
6. Take about 2 minutes. Set aside about two minutes in total. Brushing at least twice a day, with special attention before bed, makes a big difference.
7. Finish by flossing. Floss at least once a day to clean between your teeth, where the toothbrush can't reach.

What is the right way to brush your teeth?

The right way to brush your teeth is the one that removes plaque from the gumline and from every surface of your teeth without hurting your gums or enamel. That's why the 45-degree angle matters: it puts the bristles exactly where plaque builds up and where gingivitis and stains begin.

The motion should be short and gentle, like small vibrations or circles, tooth by tooth. Long, forceful back-and-forth strokes skip over the tricky areas, wear down enamel near the gums and, over the years, can contribute to gum recession and sensitivity. Force isn't the same as clean.

Dividing your mouth into sections helps you not miss any areas: upper and lower teeth, right and left sides, outer surfaces, inner surfaces and chewing surfaces. The inner surfaces of the lower teeth and the last tooth on each side are the most often forgotten — and that's where tartar usually forms first.

A total of about two minutes is a guideline for covering everything without rushing. An electric toothbrush can help people with limited dexterity or who tend to press too hard, but it isn't required: a manual toothbrush used well cleans very well. Replace your toothbrush about every three months, or sooner if the bristles splay.

A toothbrush can't reach between your teeth. That's why floss — or an interdental brush when the gaps are larger — completes the cleaning at least once a day. Without it, about a third of your tooth surfaces go uncleaned, and it's precisely between the teeth that many cavities and inflammation start.

Which mistakes to avoid, and when isn't brushing enough?

The most common brushing mistakes are pressing too hard, choosing hard bristles, brushing too fast, forgetting the inner surfaces of the teeth and the gumline, and skipping floss. Another frequent mistake is brushing hard right after eating or drinking something acidic, like soda or citrus juice, when enamel is more vulnerable; in those cases, it's better to rinse with water and wait a bit.

People with braces need more time and extra tools, like a single-tuft brush and a floss threader, because brackets create spots where plaque builds up. People with composite veneers should choose a low-abrasion toothpaste and avoid whitening products, which can scratch the resin. People with implants need to take extra care where the crown meets the gum, using floss, a floss threader or an interdental brush.

Bleeding when you brush isn't normal, and it's not a reason to stop brushing that area: it's usually a sign of gums inflamed by plaque. If the bleeding continues after one to two weeks of careful brushing and flossing, it's worth getting an assessment, because there may be tartar or gum disease that only a professional cleaning can resolve.

Brushing at home doesn't remove tartar, which is hardened plaque. That's why regular professional cleanings are still necessary, as often as your dentist recommends for your case. At the appointment, the dentist can also show you where your brushing is falling short, which is usually more useful than any general rule.

In Mooca, Dr. Cléo Salustiano sees patients every day, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and tailors hygiene routines to each patient's treatment. Good brushing alone doesn't guarantee a healthy mouth, but it's the foundation for everything that comes after.

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