A regular daily oral health routine is key to keeping your smile clean — and reducing your risk for common problems such as bad breath, tooth discoloration, cavities, and gum disease.
While intentions for good oral hygiene remain strong, some at-home behaviors are slipping, according to the 2025 State of America's Oral Health and Wellness Report.
While most adults adhere to the recommended guidelines for oral health practices such as brushing, flossing, and rinsing, there has been a notable decline in the past year.
The study found that 74% of adults are brushing twice a day compared to 79% in 2024. The number of adults who say they are flossing once a day (71% in 2025 compared to 76% in 2024) and using mouthwash once a day (66% compared to 74% in 2024) both declined as well.
Compare your current brushing and flossing schedule to these tips for morning and evening oral health care. You might find a few simple ways to improve your daily routine!
Rise and shine (and brush your teeth)
How you start your day can really make a difference, and that’s especially true when it comes to your oral health. Cleaning your mouth the right way in the morning will protect your teeth and gums and leave you feeling fresh.
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Brush your teeth for two minutes, cleaning the entire surface of each tooth.
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Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
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The best time to brush in the morning may depend on the rest of your morning routine.
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To avoid damaging your enamel, you’ll want to wait at least 30 minutes after you eat and 60 minutes after you drink acidic beverages such as coffee or orange juice.
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If you don’t have time for that, you can brush first thing in the morning — but after you do, you’ll still want to wait at least 30 minutes for the fluoride to do its job before you eat breakfast or pour yourself a coffee.
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Do not brush your teeth before and after breakfast. This can lead to overbrushing, which when combined with using too much pressure, can wear down your tooth enamel, and cause gum recession and tooth sensitivity.
Sleep tight (don’t let the mouth bacteria bite)
Mouth bacteria don’t really bite — but if you don’t have an evening oral health routine, they can build up in your mouth and increase your risk for gingivitis and tooth decay. That’s why before bed is the most important time to brush! To care for your teeth at night:
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Brush your teeth once more, for another two minutes using the same soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
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Floss your teeth. We recommend flossing at night so you can remove any food stuck in your teeth from throughout the day.
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Try to avoid late-night snacks and drinking anything except water after you’re done brushing and flossing. If you do, you’ll lose the benefit of sleeping with a clean mouth!
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If you struggle with tooth grinding, it may help to wear a mouth guard or night guard while you sleep.
What about the rest of the day?
Of course, taking great care of your teeth isn’t just important in the morning and evening. A few simple ways to care for your teeth during the day include chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva and freshen your breath, limiting sugary snacks and drinks, not drinking alcohol in excess, and not smoking or vaping at all.
Keep up a healthy daily routine
It might be hard at first, but if you focus on cleaning your smile every morning and evening, your oral health to-dos will simply become another automatic daily habit.
Replace your toothbrush
Since 2023 there has been an 11-point decline in adults who replace their toothbrush every 3 months as recommended according to the 2025 oral health and wellness report.
The study found that while younger generations, such as Gen Z and Millennials, replace their toothbrushes more often than older generations, Millennials are replacing their toothbrushes less frequently compared to past years.
Make sure you replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed or matted. It's also important to swap it out after you've been sick to avoid reinfection. An old or damaged toothbrush won’t clean your teeth as effectively and is more likely to harbor bacteria.