Oral care guide
5 min readHow to brush teeth
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste helps reduce dental disease risk. Technique, gumline cleaning and not rinsing straight away can matter.
Brushing removes plaque and delivers fluoride to the teeth. It reduces risk but does not treat established tooth decay, gum disease or dental pain by itself.
Your dentist, hygienist or therapist may adapt advice for your teeth, gums, dental work, appliances or dexterity.
At a glance
Brush thoroughly
Daily care
- Use fluoride toothpaste and clean all tooth surfaces.
- Clean gently along the gumline rather than scrubbing hard.
- Brush last thing at night and on at least one other occasion.
Keep fluoride on teeth
Spit, do not rinse
- NHS guidance advises spitting out after brushing and not rinsing straight away.
- Mouthwash is not a replacement for brushing.
- Ask for tailored advice if your mouth is dry or you have higher decay risk.
Seek advice
Persistent symptoms
- Continuing bleeding, pain, sensitivity or bad breath needs dental advice.
- Cleaning difficulty around crowns, bridges, implants or braces may need professional guidance.
- Severe pain or swelling should be assessed promptly.
Contents
Brushing lowers risk but is not a diagnosis or treatment
Good brushing helps control plaque and fluoride exposure. If symptoms continue, a dental professional needs to assess whether decay, gum disease, tooth wear or another issue is present.
Possible causes or contributing factors
- Plaque left around the gumline and between teeth.
- Brushing too hard or missing areas.
- Diet, dry mouth, dental work, orthodontic appliances and individual risk.
What you can do now
- Use a fluoride toothpaste and brush gently around every tooth.
- Angle the brush to clean where teeth meet the gums.
- Spit after brushing and avoid rinsing straight away unless advised differently.
What not to do
- Do not scrub aggressively if gums are sore.
- Do not rely on brushing alone if pain, swelling or bleeding continues.
- Do not use mouthwash as a substitute for brushing.
When to ask a dental professional
- Bleeding, bad breath or soreness continues.
- You have sensitivity, pain or visible tooth changes.
- You need help cleaning around dental work, braces or implants.
When prompt dental advice is needed
- Pain is severe or affects sleep, eating or daily activities.
- There is swelling, fever, trauma or a bad taste.
- A tooth or restoration breaks and causes pain or sharp edges.
What a dentist or relevant professional may assess or do
- Assess teeth, gums, plaque levels and cleaning technique.
- Give personalised brushing and interdental cleaning advice.
- Treat decay, gum inflammation or other problems if found.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rinse after brushing?
NHS guidance advises spitting out toothpaste after brushing and not rinsing straight away so fluoride remains on the teeth.
Can brushing treat gum disease?
Brushing is important, but established gum disease needs dental assessment and tailored care.
What if brushing makes my gums bleed?
Bleeding that continues should be discussed with a dental professional, especially if it happens regularly.
Need personalised cleaning advice?
A dental professional can tailor brushing and interdental cleaning advice to your teeth, gums and dental work.
View dental hygienist informationOfficial sources
These links open external official guidance pages for further help.
Content reviewed by Dr Majid Saeed · 13 July 2026
References used for this guide are listed above.
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