Brushing your teeth the wrong way can cause damage to your gums and teeth, and may even be worse than not brushing at all.  Here are five tips to help your brushing routine.

	Use a soft bristle toothbrush.  Brushes with soft bristles are gentle enough to not cause recession or gum irritation, but apply enough force and cleaning action to remove debris on the teeth and along the gum line.  Aggressive brushing, especially with a harder bristle brush may be very damaging to the gum tissue.
	Hold your brush lightly, like a pencil and brush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line. This will enable the bristles of the brush to gently clean around the gum line and reach the sulcus – the small pocket of space between the tooth and attaching gum tissue.
	Change your brush every three months. As the bristles become frayed, they are no longer as effective at cleaning.
	Don’t forget to brush your tongue. The crevices and creases in your tongue are a great area for bacteria to hide. Bacteria that grow on the tongue can not only cause bad breath, but may lead to just as many issues as bacteria that grow on your teeth.
	Brush for 2 minutes. Make sure you brush each area of your mouth, covering both the outside and inside surface of the teeth. If brushing for less than two minutes, you likely have not cleaned all areas of your mouth. And, while it is unlikely, brushing for more than two minutes, may cause damage to your teeth, wearing down the enamel and gum tissue. Many electric brushes now have a timer built in to insure you’re brushing for exactly the right amount of time.