Brushing your teeth is an essential aspect of maintaining good oral hygiene. However, just brushing your teeth may not be enough.

To ensure the best possible care for your teeth and overall oral health, incorporate these ten simple moves to your tooth-brushing routine.

1. Focus On One Tooth At a Time

Instead of attacking all of your teeth at once in a haphazard motion, focus on one tooth at a time. This enables you to provide each tooth with the care and attention it deserves, including the gum line and hard-to-reach areas.

2. Always Brush Gently

Brushing your teeth can feel like a chore, prompting many people to apply a very strenuous amount of pressure. However, this can cause irreversible damage to your teeth, such as receding gums that can lead to tooth sensitivity and even tooth loss.

Brush gently, using light, circular motions.

3. Remember Your Tongue

Brushing your tongue is an easy addition to your tooth-brushing routine and can help reduce bad breath. Use a tongue scraper or your toothbrush to clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

4. Floss Daily

Flossing is an essential component of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. It is essential to remove bacteria and food particles from between teeth and gums that cannot be reached with a toothbrush.

Floss at least once a day, preferably before brushing your teeth.

5. Be Thorough, But Don’t Overdo It

While it is important to brush your teeth thoroughly, don’t spend too much time on any one area or overdo it on the pressure. Brush all of your teeth for approximately two minutes, ensuring that each tooth has been brushed from all angles.

6. Use Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride plays an essential role in maintaining healthy teeth. It helps to fight cavities by strengthening the enamel on your teeth. Always choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride.

7. Choose the Right Toothbrush

The toothbrush you select should be comfortable in your hand, have soft bristles, and a small enough head to reach all areas of your mouth, including the back of your molars.

8. Brush Twice a Day

The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day: once in the morning and once before bed. Remember always to brush for at least two minutes.

9. Rinse Your Mouth After Brushing

Rinsing your mouth after brushing will remove any excess toothpaste from your mouth and will also wash away any bacteria you have disturbed while brushing.

10. Use a Mouthwash

Mouthwash is an excellent way to add an extra layer of protection to your oral health. Rinse your mouth with an ADA-approved mouthwash after brushing your teeth to kill any bacteria still present in your mouth.