How to care for your teeth

Twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste, gently along the gumline.

1. Brush in the morning and always before bed — saliva drops at night.
2. Hold the brush at ~45° to the gumline and use short, gentle strokes.
3. Cover outer, inner and chewing surfaces, ~30 seconds per quarter of the mouth.
4. Use light pressure: plaque is soft and technique matters more than force.
5. Spit out toothpaste and rinse only very lightly so fluoride stays on enamel.

⚠️ Bleeding while brushing means keep cleaning gently daily and see a dentist — do not stop brushing.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NHS GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health

An adult helps and finishes brushing until about age 7–8, fluoride paste by age.

1. Brush twice a day; the bedtime brush is essential.
2. Under 3: a smear of 1000+ ppm fluoride paste; ages 3–6: a pea-sized amount.
3. Stand behind the child and tilt their head back so you can see all teeth.
4. Finish the brushing for them until about age 7–8, when strokes get accurate.
5. Ask them to spit but not rinse with water afterwards.

⚠️ Confirm paste amount and fluoride level with a paediatric dentist — it depends on age and caries risk.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health

Guide it slowly along each tooth and let the motor do the scrubbing.

1. Apply fluoride paste and switch on only inside the mouth to avoid splatter.
2. Rest on each tooth for a couple of seconds, moving slowly along the gumline.
3. Don't scrub yourself — the head already vibrates or rotates.
4. Cover every surface; many brushes buzz every 30 seconds as a timer.
5. Don't press hard: heavy pressure wears enamel; a pressure sensor helps.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy Cochrane Oral Health NHS

Hold the brush like a pen, not a fist, to keep pressure light.

1. Hold the brush with three fingers like a pencil, not clenched in a fist.
2. If the bristles splay flat against the tooth, you're pressing too hard.
3. Aim for the pressure you'd use on a ripe tomato without breaking the skin.
4. Choose soft or medium bristles; hard bristles don't clean better.
5. On an electric brush, watch the pressure sensor if it has one.

⚠️ Constant hard brushing can cause gum recession and enamel wear at the neck of the tooth.

NIDCR / NIH European Federation of Periodontology

Gently clean the back of the tongue front-to-back after brushing.

1. After brushing, clean the tongue with a scraper or the back of the brush.
2. Move from the base toward the tip without heavy pressure.
3. Rinse the tool with water after each stroke.
4. Don't reach too far back to avoid triggering the gag reflex.
5. Do it daily — tongue coating holds bacteria and odour.

⚠️ If bad breath persists despite good hygiene, ask a clinician to check gums, dry mouth and digestion.

NIDCR / NIH American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

The last thing on your teeth before sleep should be fluoride paste, not food.

1. Brush as the very last thing before sleep, after any snacks.
2. Saliva is low at night, so acids and plaque do more harm — never skip evenings.
3. Clean between teeth first (floss/interdental brush), then brush.
4. Spit, don't rinse — fluoride should keep working overnight.
5. After the evening brush, water only — no sugary drinks.

GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health NHS

Brush above and below the wire around each bracket and add interdental brushes.

1. Brush after every meal — plaque builds up around brackets.
2. Angle the brush above and below the wire toward each bracket.
3. Use an orthodontic interdental brush to clean under the wire and between brackets.
4. Add superfloss or floss threaders for the gaps between teeth.
5. A water flosser once a day can help, but it doesn't replace brushing.

⚠️ White spots after braces come off signal early demineralisation — tell your orthodontist early.

SDCEP Periodontal Care American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Clean dentures daily with a soft brush and let your gums rest.

1. Take out and rinse the denture after meals to remove food.
2. Clean it with a denture brush and non-abrasive cleaner, not regular toothpaste.
3. Clean over a basin of water so it won't break if dropped.
4. Remove at night and store moist as instructed.
5. Clean your own teeth, gums and tongue separately with a soft brush.

⚠️ Sore spots or odour from a denture need a dental check, not tolerance.

NIDCR / NIH American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Implants don't decay, but the gum around them can — clean them daily.

1. Brush the implant twice a day like a natural tooth, with a soft brush.
2. Clean around and under the crown with a correctly sized interdental brush.
3. Use special implant/bridge floss or superfloss.
4. A water flosser helps rinse hard-to-reach areas around the implant.
5. Keep professional cleaning appointments on the schedule your dentist sets.

⚠️ Bleeding or redness around an implant (peri-implantitis) can cost the implant — don't delay a visit.

European Federation of Periodontology SDCEP Periodontal Care

Soft bristles, a small head and a comfortable handle are enough.

1. Pick soft or medium bristles — hard bristles harm enamel and gums.
2. A small head reaches the back teeth more easily.
3. The handle should sit comfortably and not slip when wet.
4. Electric vs manual matters less than routine and technique.
5. Replace every 3–4 months, or sooner when bristles spread out.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NHS

Soft bristles, a tiny head and a chunky handle for small hands.

1. Choose an age-labelled brush with soft bristles.
2. The head should be small to reach the back teeth.
3. A thick, non-slip handle suits a child's grip (and the parent's).
4. Start a first brush when the first tooth appears (a silicone finger brush also works).
5. Replace every 3 months and right after an illness.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth

The key is fluoride at 1350–1500 ppm; the rest depends on your needs.

1. For most adults choose a toothpaste with 1350–1500 ppm fluoride.
2. Look for the fluoride concentration on the pack (ppm or mg/kg), not just the word 'fluoride'.
3. For sensitivity, use a sensitive paste with potassium nitrate/fluoride.
4. Whitening pastes remove surface stains but don't change enamel colour.
5. 'Fluoride-free' and 'natural' pastes protect less against decay — factor that in.

⚠️ Higher-fluoride pastes (2800–5000 ppm) are used only on a dentist's prescription for high caries risk.

GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health CDC Oral Health American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Age-appropriate fluoride and the right amount matter more than flavour.

1. Under 3: at least 1000 ppm fluoride, a rice-grain smear.
2. Ages 3–6: fluoride paste too, a pea-sized amount.
3. Avoid '0 ppm fluoride' pastes — protection against decay is weaker.
4. Pick a milder flavour if the child tends to swallow paste.
5. Store the tube so the child can't squeeze and eat paste.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health

Hug the tooth in a C-shape and slide gently along its surface.

1. Pull out ~40 cm of floss, wind it on your middle fingers, keep 2–3 cm working length.
2. Ease the floss between the teeth without snapping it onto the gum.
3. Curve it into a C around the tooth and slide up and down its side.
4. Repeat on the neighbouring tooth of the same gap with a fresh section.
5. Do it once a day, easiest before the evening brush.

⚠️ Slight bleeding in the first days usually settles within 1–2 weeks; if not, see a dentist.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NIDCR / NIH Cochrane Oral Health

Match the size to the gap — it should enter with slight resistance.

1. Match the brush size to the gap; you'll often need a few sizes.
2. Insert horizontally, without pain, until you feel slight resistance.
3. Move back and forth 2–3 times, cleaning both side surfaces.
4. Don't sharply bend the wire — it snaps; angled models exist for front teeth.
5. Rinse the brush and replace it when the bristles wear out.

⚠️ A dentist or hygienist can help pick the right interdental sizes.

Cochrane Oral Health European Federation of Periodontology SDCEP Periodontal Care

Aim the stream along the gumline and between teeth at a medium setting.

1. Fill the reservoir with warm water and start on the lowest setting.
2. Lean over the sink and keep your lips slightly open so water drains.
3. Trace the tip along the gumline, pausing a couple of seconds between teeth.
4. Increase pressure gradually to a comfortable, pain-free level.
5. Use it in addition to brushing and floss/interdental brushes, not instead.

⚠️ A water flosser helps most with braces, implants and bridges, but doesn't replace mechanical plaque removal.

Cochrane Oral Health American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Not right after brushing — you'd wash away the toothpaste fluoride.

1. Use mouthwash at a different time from brushing (e.g. after lunch).
2. Don't rinse right after toothpaste, so its fluoride keeps working.
3. Measure the dose per the label, swish ~30 seconds, then spit.
4. After a fluoride rinse, avoid eating or drinking for ~30 minutes.
5. Mouthwash adds to brushing and floss but doesn't replace them.

⚠️ Chlorhexidine rinses are short-course and dentist-directed, not for constant daily use.

NHS GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health

Every 3–4 months, or sooner if the bristles splay.

1. Replace the brush or head every 3–4 months.
2. Swap sooner if bristles splay and lose their shape.
3. Always change the brush after a cold, flu or throat infection.
4. Worn bristles clean the gumline and between teeth less well.
5. Store upright to dry; don't keep it sealed in a cap all the time.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NHS

Sensitive toothpaste works over weeks, not instantly.

1. Choose a sensitive toothpaste with fluoride and potassium nitrate/strontium.
2. Use it consistently for 2–4 weeks — the effect builds up.
3. You can rub a little paste onto the sensitive spot at bedtime.
4. Switch to a soft brush and lighten your pressure.
5. Cut down on acidic foods and drinks that worsen sensitivity.

⚠️ Sensitivity is a symptom, not a diagnosis. If it persists, have a dentist find the cause.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NIDCR / NIH

ppm is how much fluoride there is; adults aim for 1350–1500 ppm.

1. Find the fluoride value in ppm on the pack (mg/kg means the same).
2. Adults and children 6+ usually do well with 1350–1500 ppm.
3. Under 6: at least 1000 ppm, but only a small amount of paste.
4. 1450 ppm ≈ 0.145% fluoride — ppm and percent convert easily.
5. Higher strengths (2800–5000 ppm) are prescription-only.

GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health WHO — Oral health CDC Oral Health

Floss picks are handy on the go; choose safe interdental picks over sharp toothpicks.

1. A floss pick helps when handling string floss is hard.
2. Ease the floss between teeth, curving around the tooth, not snapping the gum.
3. For gaps use soft silicone/rubber interdental picks.
4. Avoid sharp wooden toothpicks — they injure the gum.
5. Picks are a supplement; classic floss cleans the contact more fully.

Cochrane Oral Health American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Quickly, through a straw, and not sipped all day — fewer acid attacks.

1. Drink soda in one sitting rather than over hours.
2. Use a straw so the liquid washes over teeth less.
3. Drink it with a meal — saliva neutralises acid better then.
4. Rinse with water after, but wait ~30–60 minutes before brushing.
5. Sugar-free soda is still acidic and erodes enamel.

⚠️ Don't brush right after acid — softened enamel can be scrubbed away; wait about half an hour.

WHO guideline on sugars American Dental Association / MouthHealthy CDC Oral Health

Have acidic foods with meals and don't brush straight after.

1. Eat acidic fruit and foods as part of a main meal.
2. Rinse with water afterwards to dilute the acid.
3. Wait 30–60 minutes before brushing.
4. A piece of cheese or some milk can help neutralise the acid.
5. Don't hold acidic food in the mouth or suck on lemon wedges.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NHS

Frequency matters: fewer sweet moments means fewer acid attacks.

1. Cut how often you eat sugar: one dessert beats all-day snacking.
2. Keep sweets within meals, not between them.
3. Swap sugary drinks for water or unsweetened tea.
4. Read labels: sugar hides in sauces, granola and 'fitness' bars.
5. Rinse with water after sweets if you can't brush.

⚠️ WHO advises free sugars below 10% (ideally <5%) of daily energy to lower caries risk.

WHO guideline on sugars GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health WHO — Oral health

Coffee and tea stains are on the surface; water and hygiene help.

1. Drink it in one go rather than sipping for hours.
2. Follow with or rinse with water after coffee/tea.
3. A straw for cold drinks reduces contact and staining.
4. Skip added sugar — it's worse for enamel than the stain.
5. Regular brushing and professional cleaning remove surface stains.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy ADA — Whitening

Wine is acidic and staining — pair with food and water, don't brush right after.

1. Drink wine with food: food and saliva blunt the acid.
2. Alternate with water to rinse the teeth.
3. Don't brush right after — wait ~30–60 minutes after acidic wine.
4. Cheese with wine helps neutralise acid.
5. Remember overall alcohol raises oral-disease risk.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy WHO — Oral health

Eat sweets at once and with meals, not spread across the day.

1. Have sweets as dessert after a meal, not as separate snacks.
2. Sticky, chewy sweets cling to teeth longer — they're worse.
3. Rinse with water after sweets.
4. Don't suck hard candy for long — it's a long acid attack.
5. If you can brush after about half an hour, do so.

WHO guideline on sugars American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Sugar-free only, ~20 minutes after meals — it boosts saliva.

1. Choose sugar-free gum (often with xylitol).
2. Chew ~20 minutes after meals when you can't brush.
3. Chewing boosts saliva, which rinses acid and food away.
4. Sugary gum instead feeds bacteria — avoid it.
5. Gum is a stopgap, not a replacement for brushing.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy CDC Oral Health

Water rinses food, supports saliva and doesn't feed bacteria.

1. Drink water through the day, especially after snacks.
2. Rinse with water when you can't brush.
3. Swap sugary and acidic drinks for water.
4. For dry mouth, water helps but doesn't fully replace saliva.
5. Fluoridated tap water (where available) adds extra protection.

CDC Oral Health WHO — Oral health

See a dentist first: make sure teeth are healthy and the colour can whiten.

1. Get a check-up first: only healthy teeth should be whitened.
2. Professional whitening or dentist-made trays are safer than random kits.
3. Follow the gel timing — longer isn't whiter, just more painful.
4. Expect temporary sensitivity; use a sensitive toothpaste.
5. Crowns, fillings and veneers don't whiten — their colour stays.

⚠️ Avoid harsh DIY methods (baking soda, lemon, non-fluoride charcoal) — they wear enamel.

ADA — Whitening American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Tobacco raises gum-disease and oral-cancer risk and masks bleeding.

1. Smoking and smokeless tobacco raise gum-disease and oral-cancer risk.
2. Nicotine narrows vessels and hides bleeding — inflammation is masked.
3. Quitting visibly improves gums within weeks.
4. Vapes aren't safe for the mouth: dryness, irritation, plaque.
5. Ask a clinician about quitting support and have more frequent oral checks.

WHO — Oral health CDC Oral Health

Start when the first tooth appears, a smear of fluoride paste twice a day.

1. Wipe the baby's gums with a soft damp cloth even before teeth.
2. From the first tooth, brush with a soft brush twice a day.
3. Use a rice-grain smear of fluoride paste (at least 1000 ppm).
4. Don't put a bottle of juice/milk in the cot at night.
5. Take the child to a dentist by their first birthday.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth

Play, a parent's example and a fixed time make the habit stick.

1. Brush together — children copy adults.
2. Make it play: a song, a 2-minute timer, a favourite brush.
3. Keep a steady time: morning and always before bed.
4. Praise the effort rather than scolding mistakes.
5. Finish the brushing for them until about age 7–8.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth

Under 3: a rice-grain smear; ages 3–6: a pea-sized amount.

1. Under 3: apply a rice-grain smear of paste.
2. Ages 3–6: a pea-sized amount.
3. The paste must contain fluoride (at least 1000 ppm under 6).
4. Teach the child to spit out paste and not swallow it.
5. Dispense the paste yourself to control the amount.

GOV.UK Delivering Better Oral Health American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth

No sugary drinks in the bottle at night or to fall asleep.

1. Don't put the child to bed with a bottle of juice, milk or formula.
2. At night the bottle should hold only water, if anything.
3. Never dip a dummy in sugar, honey or jam.
4. Move from bottle to a cup by around age one.
5. After sugary drinks, clean the teeth or give water.

⚠️ Early childhood caries spreads fast; white or brown spots need a paediatric dentist.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth WHO guideline on sugars

First visit by the first birthday or when the first tooth appears.

1. Plan the first visit by age one or when the first tooth appears.
2. Pick a time when the child is rested and not hungry.
3. Play 'dentist' at home and read tooth books to reduce fear.
4. Don't threaten the child with the dentist or injections.
5. Early visits build comfort and catch problems in time.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth

Baby teeth matter: they get treated, not written off.

1. Brush baby teeth twice a day with age-appropriate fluoride paste.
2. Don't ignore decay in baby teeth — it affects adult teeth and speech.
3. Limit sugary snacks and juice between meals.
4. Keep preventive check-ups on the dentist's schedule.
5. Healthy baby teeth hold space for the permanent ones.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry NHS — Children's teeth

Gently phase out by ages 2–4 to protect the bite.

1. Dummies and thumb-sucking are normal in early childhood.
2. Aim to phase them out gently around ages 2–4.
3. Never dip a dummy in anything sweet.
4. Praise dummy-free days rather than scolding.
5. If it persists past 4, discuss bite effects with a dentist.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Gums bleed more easily; hygiene and check-ups stay safe and important.

1. Keep brushing twice a day and cleaning between teeth.
2. Hormones increase gum bleeding — brush gently but don't stop.
3. After morning sickness, don't brush at once: rinse with water, wait 30 minutes.
4. Routine check-ups and cleanings are safe in pregnancy.
5. Tell the dentist how far along you are before procedures.

European Federation of Periodontology American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NHS

Blood sugar and gum health affect each other — hygiene and checks matter more.

1. Keep hygiene high: brush twice a day plus interdental cleaning.
2. Control blood sugar — it lowers gum inflammation.
3. Watch for dry mouth, drink water, discuss options with a clinician.
4. Have professional cleanings more often if advised.
5. Tell the dentist about your diabetes and current control.

⚠️ Non-healing sores, loose teeth or frequent abscesses with diabetes need a prompt visit.

European Federation of Periodontology CDC Oral Health SDCEP Periodontal Care

Saliva protects teeth; dry mouth raises caries risk.

1. Sip water throughout the day.
2. Chew sugar-free gum or use saliva substitutes.
3. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and smoking — they dry the mouth.
4. Use fluoride toothpaste and ask about extra protection.
5. Review medications with a clinician — many reduce saliva.

⚠️ Persistent dry mouth needs a clinician to find the cause, not just water.

NIDCR / NIH American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Chips, morning jaw pain and worn teeth signal grinding.

1. Notice morning pain in the jaw or temples, or headaches.
2. Chips, worn edges and extra sensitivity are also signs.
3. A partner may hear grinding at night.
4. Ask a dentist about a custom night guard to protect enamel.
5. Don't replace a dentist's guard with a random OTC one if the joint hurts.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy SDCEP Periodontal Care

Remove to eat, brush before reinserting, and rinse the aligners.

1. Take aligners out to eat and for any drink except water.
2. Before reinserting, brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth.
3. Rinse aligners in cool water; hot water warps the plastic.
4. Clean aligners with a soft brush, no abrasive paste.
5. Wear them the recommended hours per day for results.

SDCEP Periodontal Care American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Daily plaque removal at the gumline is the main protection.

1. Brush twice a day, paying attention to the gumline.
2. Clean between teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes.
3. Don't stop cleaning because of bleeding — careful hygiene calms inflammation.
4. Get professional cleanings to remove tartar.
5. Manage risk factors: smoking, sugar, dry mouth.

⚠️ Receding necks, loose teeth and persistent bleeding suggest periodontitis — see a periodontist.

European Federation of Periodontology SDCEP Periodontal Care Cochrane Oral Health

Usually plaque-driven inflammation; clean gently and don't stop hygiene.

1. Don't stop brushing — bleeding usually eases within 1–2 weeks of hygiene.
2. Brush gently and be sure to clean between the teeth.
3. Swap a hard brush for a soft one and reduce pressure.
4. Book a professional cleaning to remove tartar.
5. If bleeding lasts more than 2 weeks, see a dentist.

⚠️ Spontaneous bleeding, bleeding on blood thinners, or with pain warrants a prompter visit.

European Federation of Periodontology NIDCR / NIH SDCEP Periodontal Care

Pain relief and rinsing are temporary; only a dentist treats the cause.

1. Rinse with warm salt water to clean the area.
2. Gently floss if food is trapped between the teeth.
3. Take a pain reliever per the label if you have no contraindications.
4. Don't put a tablet or aspirin directly on the gum — it burns tissue.
5. Book a dentist as soon as possible — pain signals a problem.

⚠️ Facial swelling, fever, trouble swallowing or breathing — seek urgent care now.

NIDCR / NIH American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

A permanent tooth can often be saved if you act within minutes.

1. Hold the tooth by the crown, not the root; don't rub or scrape it.
2. If dirty, rinse briefly in milk or water for a couple of seconds.
3. Try to gently reinsert a permanent tooth into its socket and bite on gauze.
4. If you can't, store it in milk or inside the cheek, never dry.
5. Get to a dentist immediately — minutes count (ideally within 30–60).

⚠️ Don't reinsert a baby tooth. With head injury, loss of consciousness or heavy bleeding, go to emergency care.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NIDCR / NIH

Start with sensitive toothpaste, but have a dentist find the cause.

1. Switch to sensitive toothpaste and use it consistently.
2. Brush with a soft brush and light pressure.
3. Cut down on acidic foods and drinks.
4. Avoid whitening while strong sensitivity persists.
5. If it doesn't ease in 2–4 weeks, see a dentist for a diagnosis.

⚠️ Sharp cold/hot pain that lingers long after the trigger may mean a nerve problem.

American Dental Association / MouthHealthy NIDCR / NIH

Start with tongue and interdental cleaning; if it persists, see a clinician.

1. Clean teeth, tongue and between teeth every day.
2. Drink water and watch for dry mouth.
3. Cut odour foods (onion, garlic) and stop smoking.
4. Check for untreated decay or gum inflammation.
5. If it persists despite hygiene, see a dentist or doctor.

NIDCR / NIH American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

Pain, swelling, pus, trauma and non-healing sores — don't wait.

1. Severe or worsening toothache, especially at night.
2. Swelling of face or gums, pus, or fever.
3. Tooth trauma: chip, crack, looseness or a knocked-out tooth.
4. A sore or white/red patch in the mouth not healing after 2 weeks.
5. Persistent bleeding or loose teeth.

⚠️ Swelling that affects swallowing or breathing is an emergency — call urgent care.

NIDCR / NIH WHO — Oral health American Dental Association / MouthHealthy

The interval is risk-based — a dentist sets it from 3 months to 2 years.

1. Attend on the interval your dentist sets for your risk.
2. Low risk can mean a longer gap; high risk means more often.
3. Don't wait for pain: many problems are seen before they hurt.
4. Combine the check-up with professional cleaning if advised.
5. Children and higher-risk people usually need checks more often.

⚠️ AIOral doesn't diagnose or replace a dentist — this is educational information. For symptoms, see a dentist.

NHS American Dental Association / MouthHealthy WHO — Oral health