As something we all do every day, it might be surprising that many people do not brush their teeth correctly. While doing it wrong is a lot better than not doing it at all, brushing your teeth correctly can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease, tooth sensitivity & more.

Maybe you had good technique, to begin with, but you’ve let things slip over time. Or maybe you never quite paid attention when your dentist or your parents showed you how it’s done. Either way, here are a few tips for keeping your dental hygiene routine easy and effective.

You’re Holding Your Toothbrush Wrong

Holding your brush so the bristles are perpendicular to your teeth is actually not the best way to go. For the outside surfaces of your teeth, hold the brush so the bristles are at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. This allows the bristles to sweep along the gum line, where plaque tends to accumulate most. For the inside surfaces of your teeth, rotate the toothbrush so it’s vertical, and gently scrub your teeth with up and down motions, using the tip of the brush for hard-to-reach spots.

You’re Not Brushing Your Tongue

The bumpy surface of your tongue is great at holding on to debris and is a hiding place for bacteria. Cleaning your tongue as part of your brushing routine can help prevent bad breath and even tooth decay by eliminating bacteria that can be transferred from your tongue to your teeth. By the way, you don’t have to use your toothbrush for this. There are many different kinds of tongue scrapers on the market. Try out a few different kinds until you find a favorite, or ask your hygienist for a recommendation.

You’re Rinsing Your Teeth Afterward

Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens teeth, prevents decay and can even help heal cavities when they are very small. That’s why we recommend using a toothpaste that contains fluoride. However, if you rinse out your mouth with water right after you brush your teeth, you’re canceling out the affect of this fluoride.

If you’ve ever had a professional fluoride varnish at the dentist, you’ll remember that we always tell you to wait at least half an hour after the treatment to eat or drink anything. That’s because we want to the fluoride to sit on the surface of your teeth for as long as possible so it can do its work. The same is true of fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to spit out the toothpaste foam when you’re done brushing, but don’t rinse out your mouth, with water or mouthwash, for at least a few minutes afterward.

Brushing your teeth is such a routine habit that you may forget that there’s a right and a wrong way to do it. But proper brushing is super important for preventing tooth decay and gum disease! Here are a few things you may be doing wrong in your dental hygiene habits and what to do instead to make sure your smile stays healthy now and into the future.

You’re Rushing and Brushing Too Hard

Hard and fast may be great for your SoulCycle workout, but not so for your teeth. Whether you’re rushing out the door to work in the morning or groggily stumbling to bed in the evening, there’s a tendency to rush through your dental hygiene routine just to get it over with. If you’re not going to brush for 2 whole minutes, you may think you can make up for it by applying more pressure and scrubbing your teeth harder. Not true! It’s much more important to be thorough and gentle. Brushing too hard can actually weaken your tooth enamel, making your teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay and sensitive teeth. Plus, you can actually irritate an injure your gums by brushing too hard. Take the time to do it right and your smile will thank you!

You’re Using the Wrong Toothbrush

Despite what some ads and commercials might have you think, there is no single brand of toothbrush that most dentists recommend. That being said, there are some guidelines you should always follow when choosing a toothbrush. First, get a soft-bristle brush. We know there are medium bristle and hard bristle options out there, but we’re sort of confused as to why they exist, because they’re not good for your teeth (they can be really hard on your tooth enamel, which can lead to cavities and sensitivity). So stick to a soft bristle brush and only buy a hard bristle one if you’re going to use it to clean the grout in your bathroom.

Believe it or not, size is important too. If you have a smaller mouth, choose a brush with a smaller head that allows you to reach the tighter spaces in the back of your mouth. We’d hate to see your back molars getting neglected just because your toothbrush is too big!

Your Toothbrush Is Ancient

Once you’ve found your perfect toothbrush, try not to get too attached. It’s going to be a three-month relationship at most. That’s right: the lifespan of a toothbrush is only about three months. After that, the bristles get worn out and start sticking out every which way, which makes it hard for them to effectively remove plaque and debris from the surfaces of your teeth. If your toothbrush looks fluffy like a feather duster (or Guy Fieri’s hair), it’s time to toss it.