People sometimes ask what they can do at home to stay on top of oral health. The habits below help reduce plaque, protect enamel and support gums. They are not a substitute for seeing a dentist and hygienist regularly — screening for decay, gum disease and oral cancer, and professional cleaning, still matter. Think of these tips as the day-to-day part of a partnership between you and your dental team.
Each section explains why the habit matters, what to do in practice, and common mistakes we see. If anything here clashes with advice your own dentist has given you for your mouth, follow their personalised plan — these tips are general guidance, not a replacement for an exam.
1. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
Brushing removes plaque before it hardens into tartar and helps deliver fluoride to the enamel. The usual pattern is two minutes last thing at night and one other time in the day, using a soft or medium brush and gentle pressure — scrubbing hard does not clean better and can wear gums and enamel over time.
Angle bristles slightly towards the gumline and use small circular or short strokes so you clean the edge where gum meets tooth.
Methodically work around your mouth (many people use a pattern: outside surfaces, then inside, then biting surfaces) so you do not skip the back teeth.
Spit after brushing; avoid rinsing with lots of water straight away so a thin layer of fluoride stays useful on the teeth.
Replace your brush or electric head about every three months, or sooner if bristles splay — worn bristles clean less well.
Children need an adult-size pea-sized smear of fluoride toothpaste appropriate for their age; your dentist can confirm strength and amount. If you are not sure your technique is right, ask us or your hygienist to watch you brush once — small tweaks often make a big difference.
2. Clean between teeth daily
Toothbrush bristles cannot fully reach the sides of teeth that touch neighbours. That leaves tight gaps where plaque collects and where decay often starts. Daily interdental cleaning is what closes the gap between "I brush well" and "I am actually cleaning the whole tooth."
String floss, tape, floss picks, interdental brushes and water flossers all have a place; the best option is the one you will use every day and that fits your spaces. Many people use a combination — for example floss or tape for tight contacts and a small interdental brush for slightly wider gaps or around implants.
If floss snags or shreds, you may need a different thickness or technique; your hygienist can demonstrate.
Interdental brushes come in sizes — using one that fits snugly without forcing is important; the wrong size is either uncomfortable or ineffective.
A little bleeding when you start flossing again after a break can happen as inflamed gums settle; if bleeding continues after a couple of weeks of daily cleaning, book a check — persistent bleeding is not something to ignore.
3. Limit how often you have sugary or acidic food and drink
Your teeth are under acid attack after eating and drinking; saliva slowly brings the mouth back to a safer level. When you snack or sip often, that recovery never really finishes — it is like leaving the lights on all night for bacteria that feed on sugars. That pattern drives both decay risk and acid wear on enamel.
It helps to keep sweets, biscuits, juice and fizzy drinks mainly to mealtimes rather than grazing through the day. Sugar-free gum after food can stimulate saliva in some people. Very acidic drinks (including many "diet" fizzy drinks and some flavoured waters) still soften enamel for a short time, so chasing them with water and not brushing immediately can reduce wear.
If you need frequent snacks for medical reasons, choose lower-sugar options where possible and rinse with water; tell us so we can tailor prevention.
Finished something sweet? A drink of water or plain milk is kinder than constant grazing.
4. Drink water after meals
Water washes away loose food debris, dilutes acids and helps you swallow comfortably. For many adults, sipping water through the day also offsets dry mouth from medicines, exercise or air-conditioned offices — and saliva flow matters because it buffers acid and carries minerals that help enamel.
In areas where tap water is fluoridated, drinking tap water can contribute a small extra protective effect alongside fluoride toothpaste. If you mostly drink bottled water, you are not missing out completely — your brushing and professional care still carry most of the benefit — but tap water where fluoride is present is a simple win when you can choose it.
5. Do not brush immediately after vomiting or reflux
Stomach acid is strong enough to soften the surface of enamel for a while. If you brush straight away, you can scrub away microscopic layers of softened enamel. The same caution applies after a bout of acid reflux or heartburn, and to some extent after very acidic drinks if your enamel has been exposed for a while.
Rinse your mouth with plain water first.
Wait roughly an hour before brushing if you can; in the meantime, water and sugar-free gum may help.
If reflux is frequent, speak to your GP as well as us — protecting teeth is one part; treating the cause helps your overall health.
6. Use a mouthguard for contact sport
A blow to the face can chip teeth, knock them out or drive them into the bone. A well-fitted mouthguard absorbs and spreads force. It is not only for rugby or hockey — basketball, skateboarding and many martial arts carry real dental trauma risk too.
Custom guards made from impressions of your teeth tend to fit securely and interfere less with breathing and speech than loose shop-bought ones, but a good boil-and-bite guard is far better than nothing. Replace guards when they distort, thin out or after a major impact. Bring your guard to appointments if you want us to check the fit.
7. Avoid opening packaging with your teeth
Teeth are excellent for chewing food; they are poor substitutes for scissors, bottle openers or pliers. The sudden twist or upward force that opens a plastic tag can create a crack that starts small and spreads over months, or it can shear off a corner of a tooth in one go.
The same goes for chewing ice, pen caps or fishing line — habits that feel harmless until a fracture needs a crown or worse. If you notice chips or rough edges, get them checked early; small repairs are simpler than waiting for pain or a break below the gumline.
8. Stop smoking or vaping if you can
Smoking stains teeth, reduces blood flow in the gums (which can mask how sick they really are), slows healing after extractions or surgery and is a major risk factor for gum disease and oral cancer. Vaping is not harmless either: the gums and oral tissues still suffer irritation, nicotine affects blood vessels, and some liquids are acidic or sugary enough to matter for decay risk.
Quitting is often easier with support than alone. The NHS has stop-smoking services; your GP practice can signpost you. Even cutting down helps, and your dental team can monitor gum health and soft tissues more closely while you are working on it — tell us honestly what you use so advice matches your situation.
9. Notice bleeding or persistent bad breath
Healthy gums should not bleed every time you clean. Bleeding with brushing or flossing can be a sign of gum inflammation or more advanced gum disease, especially if it is paired with redness, swelling or bad taste. Bad breath that does not improve with brushing, tongue cleaning and hydration can come from gum infection, decay, dry mouth or other causes — rarely it is "just how you are."
Do not stop cleaning because you see blood — gentle daily plaque removal is part of the solution; book a visit if it lasts.
Sudden bad breath with toothache, swelling or fever needs prompt attention — it can indicate infection.
We can chart your gums, clean thoroughly and show you where your home care needs to focus.
10. Keep routine appointments
The habits above support your mouth between visits; they do not replace them. A check-up looks for decay you cannot see, cracks, wear, signs of oral cancer and how your bite and jaw are behaving. Hygiene visits remove tartar that brushing cannot shift and polish stains you are tired of seeing in the mirror.
At Pear Tree Dental in Nottingham we set recall intervals based on your risk — often six to twelve months for routine examinations, sometimes more frequent hygiene if you build tartar quickly, have a history of gum disease, wear braces or have implants. Coming regularly usually means smaller, easier treatments than waiting until something hurts.
Between visits, note any sensitivity, ulcers that do not heal within two weeks, lumps or white/red patches — mention them at your appointment.
If your circumstances change (new medicines, pregnancy, diagnosis of diabetes), tell us — prevention plans can be adjusted.
Book your next visit
Whether you are due a check-up or have a concern, book online or call 0115 931 2935.
FAQ
Q: If I follow all ten habits, can I skip the dentist? A: No. Home care cannot remove tartar or detect early decay between teeth, cracks or oral cancer changes the way a professional exam can.
Q: How often should adults see a dentist? A: Your dentist will suggest an interval based on your mouth — often six to twelve months for routine care, more often if you have ongoing gum disease or high decay risk.
Q: What if I am nervous? A: Tell us when you book — we can allow extra time and discuss ways to make visits easier.
Q: Do I need an electric toothbrush? A: Not necessarily. Both manual and electric brushes can work well if you brush thoroughly for two minutes and reach all surfaces. Some people find a powered brush helps with timing and consistency; if your hygienist is happy with your plaque control on a manual brush, you do not have to change.
Q: Where is Pear Tree Dental? A: Nottingham. See contact for details.