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Discover how your family can improve their oral hygiene with expert advice from Ivohealth
HERMAN GIBBS
19 October 2026 – Oral hygiene is a cornerstone of good health, and most families are aware of the basic rule: brush twice a day.
However, the nuances of a comprehensive oral care routine often get overlooked, particularly when it comes to different age groups within a family. With children, teenagers, and elderly relatives all having distinct oral health needs, gaps in the routine can lead to significant issues over time.
Dirna Grobbelaar, Ivohealth’s Oral Hygiene Advisor and GUM spokesperson, points out that despite regular brushing, there are seven common mistakes that families tend to make unknowingly.
By recognising and addressing these pitfalls, families can improve their oral hygiene practices and help everyone achieve a healthier smile.
- Brushing for less time than you think
Two minutes can feel surprisingly long when you’re getting ready for school or heading to bed. Grobbelaar says many people stop after a minute or less without realising it.
“Try using a timer for a few days to see how long each person actually brushes, then work towards two minutes, morning and night,” she advises.
- Brushing harder to get teeth cleaner
It’s easy to think that brushing harder will remove more plaque, but too much pressure can irritate gums and wear down enamel.
“Choose a soft toothbrush and angle the bristles towards the gumline,” says Grobbelaar. “Use small, gentle movements to clean each tooth, rather than pressing harder.”
- Leaving out the spaces between teeth
The unfortunate truth is that a toothbrush cannot clean every single tooth surface in your mouth. Food and plaque can remain between teeth unless those spaces are cleaned too. This becomes particularly relevant for children as their permanent teeth come in and begin to sit closer together.
“Floss or an interdental tool, such as GUM Soft-Picks PRO, can help clean where a toothbrush cannot reach,” says Grobbelaar.
- Assuming children can brush thoroughly on their own
Children may be keen to brush by themselves, but they can still miss parts of their mouths. Grobbelaar recommends helping them brush until around ages eight to ten. One way to do this is to let your child brush independently in the morning, then brush their teeth for them before bed.
- Treating braces like ordinary teeth
Brackets and wires create more places for plaque to collect. If a teenager brushes around them too quickly, they may miss areas that need extra attention. Cleaning between the teeth can also take more effort.
“Flossing around braces can be tricky, but it’s important not to leave those spaces out,” says Grobbelaar. “GUM Ortho Floss is designed to thread around the wires, making it easier to clean between the teeth.”
- Rinsing with water straight after brushing
Rinsing after brushing may feel like the natural final step, but it washes away much of the crucial ingredients that should be left behind by your toothpaste. Things like fluoride need time in contact with the teeth to do their job.
Grobbelaar suggests cleaning your tongue and between your teeth first, then brushing with a product like GUM Bio Toothpaste.
When you’re done, spit out the excess toothpaste without rinsing with water. It’s a small change to the order of your routine that gives the fluoride more time to work.