5 ways to more effective teeth cleaning

Can you make and eat your breakfast in less than two minutes in the morning? What about doing your hair and make-up?

If you can, I’m impressed. If you can’t, don’t worry neither can I. But the point is that if you can find time to spend more than two minutes doing anything in the morning, then you can definitely spare two minutes to brush your teeth properly. 

And while you’re at it you might as well make sure you’ve got your brushing technique right too. Yep, it’s not just the amount of time you spend on your teeth that you could be doing wrong, there’s a whole list of things…

Why you need to brush for two minutes

Ok, so since I’ve already talked up the importance of brushing your teeth for two minutes we’ll start with that. To effectively remove plaque and build up from each tooth you need to brush for a minimum of two minutes, otherwise you’re not cleaning every single tooth properly. If you already believe you’re doing this, set a timer the next time you brush your teeth, you may be surprised.

Don’t brush straight after meals

Despite what you may think, brushing straight after a meal is not good for your teeth. According to Sydney dentist Dr Chitra Das, if you eat or drink something acidic and then brush straight afterwards you can potentially remove enamel. “You’re better off waiting 30 minutes after meals before you brush,” he advises. bh recommends brushing with Macleans Advanced Toothpaste to help strengthen and protect your tooth enamel. 

Change your toothbrush every three months

“Our toothbrush cleans our teeth, but what cleans our toothbrush?” asks Dr Das. (And no, water doesn’t count.) When you’re brushing your teeth every morning and night your toothbrush is bound to accumulate germs, not to mention bent bristles, so you really need to change your brush at least every three months to ensure you’re getting the most effective clean. A survey conducted by Waterpik* revealed that one in two Australians change their toothbrush no more than twice a year, so if you fall into that ‘forgetful’ category Dr Das recommends you set a reminder on your phone every three months to remind yourself to repurchase.

Start in a different spot each time

You may not realise it but each time you brush your teeth there’s a big chance you’re starting in the same place. By doing this you’re potentially neglecting parts of your mouth, as you become less thorough the longer you brush. Make a point to start in a different spot every time so you’re giving your mouth equal attention.

Don’t rinse after you spit

If you already can’t stand the taste of orange juice straight after you’ve brushed your teeth then you’ll definitely want to steer clear of it if you adhere to this last tip. Once you’ve finished brushing and spitting out any remaining toothpaste, DON’T rinse your mouth out with water. Rinsing washes away the protective fluoride coating left by the toothpaste, which would otherwise give your teeth extended protection. If you really can’t stand the thought of not rinsing, use a mouthwash such as Colgate Plax Fresh Tea Mouthwash instead of water.

*2013 Waterpik survey of more than 1,300 Australians.

Do you spend enough time on your teeth? How do you make sure they’re getting a proper clean?