--- title: "Back to Basics: How to Properly Clean Your Teeth  " url: "https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/2025/09/02/back-to-basics-how-to-properly-clean-your-teeth/" site_name: "Yardley Dental Arts" content_type: "article" breadcrumbs: "Home > Dentistry > Back to Basics: How to Properly Clean Your Teeth  " description: "Are you brushing properly? Check out these teeth cleaning tips from Yardley Dental Arts in Yardley, PA to ensure good oral hygiene." keywords: "dental health tips, oral health, oral hygiene" language: "en" categories: - "Dentistry" tags: - "dental health tips" - "oral health" - "oral hygiene" word_count: 492 reading_time: "3 min read" summary: "Dental hygiene has been drilled into us since we were children…but are we doing it right? You could do all the brushing and flossing in the world, but your teeth could still have some problems.&n..." last_modified: "2025-09-02T19:17:05+00:00" schema_type: "Article" related_posts: - title: "The Importance of Dental Insurance" url: "https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/2023/06/26/the-importance-of-dental-insurance/" - title: "Do You Have Sleep Apnea? " url: "https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/2024/06/28/do-you-have-sleep-apnea/" - title: "How Does a Dentist Fix a Cracked or Chipped Tooth?" url: "https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/2024/08/31/how-does-a-dentist-fix-a-cracked-or-chipped-tooth/" estimated_tokens: 640 --- # Back to Basics: How to Properly Clean Your Teeth   ![](https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/unnamed-file-2-1024x406.jpg) Dental hygiene has been drilled into us since we were children…but are we doing it right? You could do all the brushing and flossing in the world, but your teeth could still have some problems. You may need to make some adjustments to your dental care routine. Take a look at these tips for proper [teeth cleaning](https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/dental-treatments-yardley/). ## The Importance of Brushing Brushing your teeth is a crucial and basic way to ensure optimal oral health. You put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush, and you start brushing away. But there may be more to [proper teeth cleaning](https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/dental-treatments-yardley/periodontal-treatment-yardley/) than you realize. From not brushing for long enough to using an old toothbrush, there are several ways you may be skipping on your dental hygiene routine. ## Ensuring Proper Technique There are simple ways to ensure that you are brushing your teeth properly. Make sure that you gently brush from all sides, taking the type to address each side of a tooth. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to apply too much pressure. In fact, all you need is enough to reach each spot. While you might have a favorite toothbrush, you should replace it every three to four months. Also, don’t forget to also brush your tongue, as bacteria can accumulate here and can cause bad breath! ## Why You Should Floss Flossing is just as important as brushing. Yet, it’s a step that many people skip. Brushing and flossing go together and are crucial for dental hygiene. Doing this removes plaque and bacteria, reduces cavities, protects your teeth from damage, and prevents gum disease. ## How to Floss Properly For regular floss tape, break off about eighteen inches, wind them around your index fingers to be about one to two inches, and slide it down between each tooth. To make sure that you don’t mess up your progress, unwind one inch of [floss](http://share.google/e98u9k0gM8MlptrNc) or tape to a fresher spot for flossing. Repeat until all of your teeth are flossed. Don’t forget to rinse out your mouth after you floss! ## Never Skip a Dental Appointment While you might not be a fan of the dentist, if you are experiencing pain or discomfort then brushing and flossing might not be enough to treat the issue. How will visits to the dentist help with proper teeth cleaning? Dentists can spot problems that you might be missing. The annual proper teeth cleaning can help with dental hygiene. Going to the [dentist](http://maps.app.goo.gl/1C7BCeXr9LqZ7DsQ7) might not be fun, but you will thank yourself later when you go. ## Trust Yardley Dental Arts for All Your Dental Hygiene Needs! At Yardley Dental Arts, we are invested in ensuring optimal oral health, no matter what. Our team will ensure that your gums and teeth are in good condition and will swiftly address any issues that we notice. Contact us at [Yardley Dental Arts](https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/contact/) today! --- _View the original post at: [https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/2025/09/02/back-to-basics-how-to-properly-clean-your-teeth/](https://www.yardleydentalarts.com/2025/09/02/back-to-basics-how-to-properly-clean-your-teeth/)_ _Served as markdown by [Third Audience](https://github.com/third-audience) v3.6.1_ _Generated: 2026-10-16 01:13:48 UTC_