10 Oral Hygiene Tips for Clean Teeth and a Healthy Smile

Why Good Teeth Matter

Having clean teeth makes you happy. A bright smile helps you feel good about yourself. When your teeth look nice, you want to smile more!

Twenty-five out of one hundred grown-ups in America do not brush enough.[^1] This is not good. Your teeth need care every day.

Good teeth do more than look nice. They help you:

• Eat good food
• Talk clearly
• Feel good about yourself
• Stay healthy all over

Let’s learn how to get a healthy smile with these ten easy tips!

Tip 1: Follow the 2-1-2 Rule Every Day

The 2-1-2 Rule is very easy:

• Brush two times each day
• Floss one time each day
• See your dentist two times each year

When you brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Hard ones can hurt your gums. Brush for two full minutes each time. That gives you time to clean all your teeth well.

If you do not know if you brush long enough, try using a timer. Or play a song that lasts two minutes!

Tip 2: Brush the Right Way

How you brush matters a lot! Here’s how to do it right:

1. Hold your brush at a small angle
2. Use gentle, circular motions
3. Brush all sides of each tooth
4. Don’t push too hard

Pushing too hard can make your gums pull back. This is called gum recession. It can make your teeth hurt when you eat hot or cold foods.

Half of all people who use hard bristles have more gum problems.So always use a soft brush!

Tip 3: Clean Between Your Teeth Daily

Food gets stuck between teeth where your brush can’t reach. This food can cause tooth decay.

You need to clean these spaces every day. You can use:

• Dental floss
• Interdental brushes (little brushes that fit between teeth)
• Water flossers

People who use interdental brushes get 40% less gum disease. These small brushes can reach spots that are hard to clean.

Learn more about how interdental brushes help your teeth

Tip 4: Use the Right Mouthwash

Not all mouthwash is the same. Some have alcohol that can dry your mouth. A dry mouth makes more bacteria grow.

Look for alcohol-free mouthwash. It cleans your mouth without drying it out. This helps stop bad breath and keeps your mouth healthy.

Using good mouthwash can:

• Kill germs your brush missed
• Make your breath fresh
• Help stop gum inflammation
• Work with your toothpaste to make your teeth stronger

Tip 5: Eat Foods That Clean Your Teeth

Some foods help clean your teeth while you eat them! These are:

• Apples
• Carrots
• Celery
• Other crunchy fruits and vegetables

These foods rub against your teeth and help wipe away food and plaque. They make more spit in your mouth too. Spit helps wash away the things that cause tooth decay.

Also, drink lots of water. Water helps wash food off your teeth and keeps your mouth from getting dry.

Tip 6: Don’t Use Your Teeth as Tools

Your teeth are for:

• Eating food
• Helping you talk
• Making you look nice when you smile

They are NOT for:

• Opening bags
• Pulling tags off clothes
• Holding things when your hands are full

Using teeth as tools can make them crack or chip. Fixing broken teeth costs a lot of money and can hurt.

Tip 7: Keep Your Mouth From Getting Too Dry

A wet mouth is a healthy mouth! When your mouth is dry, you get more cavities and bad breath.

To help:

• Drink water all day long
• Chew sugar-free gum to make more spit
• Use mouth dryness solutions if needed

People who drink enough water have 30% fewer cavities. Water washes away food and makes your mouth less dry.

Tip 8: Make Your Teeth White the Safe Way

Everyone wants white teeth. But some ways to make teeth white can hurt them.

Safe ways to get whiter teeth:

• Use toothpaste made for whitening
• Ask your dentist about safe teeth-whitening kits
• Use whitening mouthwash

It’s best to talk to your dentist before you try to make your teeth whiter. They can tell you what is safe for your teeth.

Find out more about safe teeth whitening options

Tip 9: Take Good Care of Your Gums

Healthy gums are just as important as healthy teeth! Gums hold your teeth in place.

Signs your gums need help:

• They bleed when you brush
• They look red and puffy
• They hurt when you touch them

To keep gums healthy:

• Brush along your gum line gently
• Floss every day
• See your dentist if your gums bleed

People with gum disease have a bigger chance of getting heart disease too.[^8] So taking care of your gums helps your whole body!

Tip 10: See Your Dentist Two Times a Year

Even if you do all these things at home, you still need to see a dentist. Dentists can:

• Clean your teeth better than you can at home
• Find small problems before they get big
• Check for oral cancer and other serious things
• Give you tips for your teeth

Professional cleanings help stop plaque buildup that you can’t remove at home. This saves your teeth from gum disease and cavities.

Regular dental check-ups are key to a healthy smile

Extra Tips for 2025

Want to do even more for your teeth? Try these new ideas:

Use New Tools

• Try a toothbrush with a timer
• Get a tongue cleaner to stop bad breath
• Use apps that remind you to brush and floss

Protect Your Teeth

• Wear a mouthguard if you play sports
• Get a night guard if you grind your teeth when you sleep

Small Diet Changes for Big Benefits

• Cut back on sugary drinks
• Wait 30 minutes to brush after eating sour foods
• Eat cheese or milk after sweets to help your teeth

How These Tips Help Everyone

These tips work for:

• Kids just learning to brush
• Teens who want white teeth
• Adults with busy lives
• Older people who want to keep their teeth

Good oral hygiene helps your self-esteem. When you like your smile, you feel good about yourself. You smile more and seem more friendly to others!

Start Small and Build Good Habits

Don’t try to do all ten tips at once. Start with one or two:

1. Brush two times a day
2. Floss once a day
3. Then add more tips as you go

Small steps make big changes over time!

Your Healthy Smile Plan

Here’s a simple plan to get started:

This easy plan will help keep your smile bright and your teeth strong!

Remember: A healthy smile makes you look good and feel good. Start these tips today for teeth that stay strong and clean for years to come!