Dental advice · January 2026
Five daily habits that protect your teeth
Most of the treatment we carry out could have been prevented by five habits that take under five minutes a day between them.
1. Brush for two minutes, twice, at a 45-degree angle
Point the bristles towards the gum line at roughly 45 degrees and use small circular movements rather than a scrubbing motion. Hard horizontal scrubbing wears grooves into the necks of teeth and pushes the gums back — damage we cannot reverse.
2. Clean between your teeth once a day
A brush reaches about 60% of a tooth's surface. Decay and gum disease start in the 40% it misses. Floss or, better for most adults, interdental brushes in the size we fit for you.
3. Wait 30 minutes after acidic food or drink
After citrus, wine or fizzy drinks, enamel is temporarily softened. Brushing straight away scrubs away softened enamel. Rinse with water, wait half an hour, then brush.
4. Don't rinse after brushing
Spit out the toothpaste but skip the water. Leaving a thin fluoride film on the teeth overnight is one of the cheapest and most effective things you can do.
5. Treat grinding seriously
Waking with a tight jaw or a dull headache usually means night grinding. It flattens teeth, cracks fillings, and breaks crowns. A night guard costs a fraction of what it prevents — mention it at your next appointment and we will check the wear patterns.