- 1). Brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which effectively removes plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on teeth from eating.
- 2). Use a rounded-tip bristled toothbrush, which reaches all corners of your teeth to remove plaque on all surfaces of your teeth. Angle your toothbrush 45 degrees as you clean your teeth, going back and forth in short movements for about three or four minutes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
- 3). Brush your teeth after each meal, if possible. This will effectively remove plaque throughout the day. At a minimum, brush twice a day.
- 4). Floss after each meal, as well, if possible. Flossing removes plaque build-up between teeth. At a minimum, floss once per day. Zig-zag an inch or two of the tightened floss between your teeth, according to the American Dental Hygienists' Association, and then guide the floss along each side of each tooth, all the way to the gum line. Curve the floss along the teeth as you go, making sure to change the tightened portion of the floss to keep it clean.
- 5). Brush the areas where your teeth meet your gum line thoroughly. Plaque commonly forms here, and this area can be overlooked easily while brushing.
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