There are many different styles of toothbrushing. The most important aspect of tooth brushing is that the bacteria that causes tooth decay should be removed. This page should guide you in developing and improving a style that works for you. Learning how to brush your teeth well is a skill required for a healthy life.

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Look at your teeth in the mirror. Notice that the biting surface is the roughest surface and that the sides of these teeth are smooth.  It is the rough surface that tends to attract food so start here first.  Use a pea sized amount of toothpaste and start with the upper biting surfaces making sure your brush goes beyond the last tooth. Repeat this on the lower jaw. Look at the rough surface areas on the biting surface

The back teeth are characterised by having a flat biting surface. These teeth are called molars and the smaller ones premolars. Divide the mouth into  four and brush the outer and inner surfaces using a back and forth movement and then using a gentle rolling stroke upwards away from the gum. Remember to go right to the back of the mouth beyond the last tooth.  You will now need to brush the back of the last tooth.  This can be achieved by pulling the toothbrush to the side of the mouth whilst closing slightly. If you have missing back teeth you will have to tilt do similar for the backs and the fronts.

Take two and a half minutes to brush your teeth

Now that you have cleaned the back teeth well, concentrate on the front 6 teeth upper and lower.  The center 4 teeth are called incisors whilst the pointed eye teeth are called canines.


Pull the upper lip out of the way and point the bristles towards the gums. Start from one canine and using small gentle back and forth movements move towards the other canine.

As your teeth are on a curve,  your brush handle should move accordingly. Think of  your toothbrush as a car and your teeth as a road.  Ensure you cover the entire tooth surface not just the area near the gums. Repeat for the lower teeth paying attention to using small movements not large strokes.

Clean the backs of the front teeth by positioning your toothbrush hande in line with your body.  Start from one canine and use strokes away from the gumline only. Experiment with placing the toothbrush deeper down so that more bristles pass over the teeth and work slowly round to the other canine.

Now that you have completed the tooth brushing spit out the remaining paste but do not rinse.  The fluoride in the paste will continue to strengthen your teeth. Feel and look  around your teeth to see if there are areas where you coud improve and repeat these areas if required.

Be gentle at all times.