Brushing teeth
/ˈbrʌʃɪŋ tiːθ/
A1brushing (present participle), teeth (plural)
Definition
Brushing teeth is the action of using a brush, usually with toothpaste, to clean your teeth. It helps remove food, plaque (a sticky layer of germs), and keeps your mouth fresh and healthy. People usually do this two times a day.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
The daily action of cleaning teeth with a toothbrush
- •I brush my teeth every morning before breakfast.
- •She is brushing her teeth right now in the bathroom.
- •Brushing teeth helps prevent cavities and bad breath.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "brushing teeth" like "washing hands," but for your mouth to keep it clean
- ✓Picture a small brush moving back and forth over your teeth, making them shiny and clean
- ✓It's the feeling of freshness and health you get after cleaning your mouth well
- ✓Sounds like "brush-ing teeth" → imagine brushing like sweeping dirt off a floor, but inside your mouth
- ✓Remember the daily routine you do every morning and night to keep your smile bright
- ✓NOT like "eating" (putting food in mouth), "brushing teeth" is to clean and remove food from teeth
- ✓NOT like "rinsing mouth" (just using water), brushing uses a brush and toothpaste for deeper cleaning
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Washing teeth: meaning cleaning teeth (Use when speaking simply, but less common)
- •Scrubbing teeth: meaning cleaning teeth with effort (Use when emphasizing hard cleaning)
- •Cleaning teeth: general meaning of removing dirt from teeth (Use when talking about oral hygiene broadly)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "brushing" (from verb "brush" + "-ing" for action) + "teeth" (plural of "tooth")
- •Etymology: "brush" comes from Old French "brosse," meaning a tool to clean; "teeth" is old English plural of "tooth"
- •Historical development: Brushing teeth has been a hygiene habit for centuries, becoming common with modern toothbrushes in the 20th century
- •Modern usage: Used in daily life to describe the important habit of cleaning teeth to keep them healthy and clean
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think brushing teeth is important for health beyond just having a nice smile?
•How might brushing teeth routines change in different cultures or ages?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.People usually brush their teeth ___ times a day to keep them clean and healthy.
2.Brushing teeth helps remove ___ and food stuck between teeth.
3.You use a ___ and toothpaste when brushing teeth.
4.Unlike rinsing your mouth, brushing teeth uses a ___ to clean deeply.
5.If you forget brushing teeth, you might get ___ or bad breath.
6.Children learn to brush teeth with help until they can do it ___.
7.Brushing teeth is part of a daily ___ for good hygiene.