How to Brush Your Teeth Properly: A Step-by-Step Guide
dentalcare
A simple, step-by-step brushing routine from our South Surrey team — angle, pressure, timing, and the one habit most people skip.
Good brushing isn't about scrubbing harder or buying a fancier brush — it's about a repeatable two-minute routine. Here's the technique we teach patients at Morgan Heights.
What you'll need
- A soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush
- A pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste
- A timer (your phone works)
Step 1: Set up
Wet the bristles if you like — it's a personal preference and doesn't change the clean. Add a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste. Adults don't need a big stripe like the commercials show.
Step 2: Angle the brush 45° to the gumline
Hold the brush like a pencil, not a fist. Aim the bristles where the tooth meets the gum. That's where plaque builds up first.
Step 3: Use short, gentle strokes
Small circles or short back-and-forth wiggles — not long, hard scrubs. If your bristles are splayed after a few weeks, you're pressing too hard.
Step 4: Cover all surfaces for two full minutes
Divide your mouth into four quadrants and give each 30 seconds: outer, inner, and chewing surfaces. Don't forget the tongue-side of your lower front teeth — it's the most-missed spot.
Step 5: Brush your tongue
A few gentle strokes front to back helps with breath and reduces bacteria.
Step 6: Spit, don't rinse
This is the single biggest upgrade most people can make. Rinsing washes away the fluoride still working on your enamel. Just spit and go.
Step 7: Care for the brush
Rinse it, store it upright to air-dry, and swap it every 3–4 months.
Want a hands-on tune-up? Book a professional cleaning with the Morgan Heights team or call 604-535-8835.