Consistent use of your toothbrush daily can wear its effectiveness. It is recommended that the toothbrush is changed every 3 months. Besides losing its intended effectiveness, another reason is to avoid having the damaged bristles attached to the toothbrush from potentially hurting your gums.

It is common that most of us will quickly brush our teeth and be done in anything less than 2 minutes. This will not give the flouride sufficient time to react with your teeth, it is recommended that a brushing of 2 minutes or more.

One of the most common practice after brushing is by quickly rinsing your mouth with water. This actually reduces the effectiveness of the flouride that is reacting to your teeth. Use a mouthwash instead and then rinse with water after.

All of the added features in toothpaste today come at a cost to your oral health. The abrasive chemicals and textures intended to whiten your teeth can actually strip them of the enamel, and as a result make them darker. My recommendation is to use the most natural and least abrasive toothpaste you can find.

This is the most common mistake people make when brushing their teeth. There is a misconception that the power of your stroke is what cleans your teeth. It is the motion of your brush that does the cleaning. Brushing your teeth too hard can wear out your tooth enamel and gums and cause tooth sensitivity. If the bristles of your tooth brush are splayed out, you are brushing too hard.

Your tongue is a receptacle for germs and most often the cause of bad breath. When you're done brushing, use a tongue scraper to clean your tongue or brush your tongue with your toothbrush (Some toothbrush has a back facing brush intended for it). This will reduce the number of germs in your mouth and improve your breath overall.

It is not the firmness of your toothbrush that cleans your teeth, it is the motion of your brushing. Using a toothbrush that is too hard can also result in loss of enamel and gum tissue, and can be painful if you are not careful. When selecting a toothbrush, use the softest one you can find.

Many of us brush our teeth either in a horizontal or vertical direction however that is not the correct method. To avoid hurting your gums, it is recommended that you brush your teeth in a circular motion.

Brushing can only reach certain parts of your teeth and flossing is needed to thoroughly clean your teeth. If you're not used to flossing daily, start with the intention of flossing one or two teeth. Eventually you will work up to flossing your whole mouth, which will help prevent cavities and bad breath.

It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day – once in the morning and once before bedtime. Brushing your teeth once a day is not enough and three times or more in a day is too much, especially if you are making any of the mistakes above. If you are concerned about keeping your teeth clean between brushing, try using floss or an opal pick to clean your teeth between brushing.