What kind of brush are you using? It really does make a difference, says Dr. Ron Smith, president of the Canadian Dental Association and a dentist in Duncan, B.C. “You want a toothbrush that has relatively soft bristles and has lots of them,” he notes. Your mouth is also better off with rounded bristles, not bristles with chopped, sharp ends. If your brush isn’t right, you could be doing a poor job cleaning, and damaging your enamel while you’re at it.

While you’re giving your brush the once-over, check whether it looks worn. Toothbrushes generally last an average of three months. If your brush is looking sickly after six weeks, you could be applying too much pressure. And that can hurt your teeth. “Some patients say their teeth don’t feel clean unless they scrub hard,” says Dr. Smith. “But brushing can be a very gentle process.”