How to Properly Brush & Floss

Most people brush too hard, too fast, and skip the places that matter — how to brush and floss in a way that actually removes plaque.

Brushing is a technique, not an effort. Scrubbing harder does not clean better; it wears enamel and pushes gums back. Plaque is soft, and it comes away with contact rather than force.

Brushing

Hold the brush at about 45 degrees to the gumline, not flat against the tooth
Use small circles or short strokes, with light pressure — the bristles should not splay
Work systematically around the mouth so nothing gets missed
Give the inside surfaces the same time as the outside ones
Two minutes, twice a day. Most people stop at around forty seconds

Flossing

Use enough floss to hold a clean section for each gap
Guide it gently past the contact point rather than snapping it down
Curve it into a C against one tooth and move it up and down, then repeat against the neighbour
Go slightly below the gumline — that is where the plaque you cannot reach is living
Bleeding at first usually means inflammation, not injury. It normally settles within a week or two of daily cleaning