Brushing your teeth properly is the first step to healthy teeth and gums. Believe it or not, toothbrush bristles can actually damage your teeth and gums if you are not using it correctly. Learn how to brush the right way and you’ll protect your teeth for years to come. Brushing the Wrong Way If you’re like most people, you brush your teeth hard and fast; scrubbing your teeth with a back and forth, up and down motion until you feel they are clean. You may feel that the faster and harder you brush, the cleaner your teeth will be. That isn’t the case. Brushing too hard can actually cause damage to your tooth enamel and is very abrasive to your gums. When you brush this way, you are also missing the spaces between your teeth, where tiny food particles and plaque are. The Correct Way to Brush Place the toothbrush over your teeth and wiggle it back and forth a little bit, using small circular motions, making sure the bristles cover each tooth and work th...