Why Do My Teeth Feel Dirty After Brushing? Causes and Fixes

If you keep asking yourself why do my teeth feel dirty after brushing, the cause is usually plaque that the brush has missed. Rushed brushing, the wrong angle, worn bristles and skipping the gaps between teeth all leave a film behind. The good news is that most causes are easy to fix with a few changes to how you brush.

Here are the common reasons, and what to do about each.

Common reasons teeth still feel dirty

1. Plaque left at the gumline. Plaque is a soft, sticky layer of bacteria that forms every day. It collects most where teeth meet gums, and if the bristles skim past it, your teeth feel furry soon after.
2. Brushing too quickly. Two minutes feels long, and many people stop well short. The back teeth and inner surfaces are usually the first to miss out.
3. The wrong technique. Scrubbing hard across the front of the teeth, ignoring the inside surfaces and holding the brush flat rather than angled to the gumline all leave plaque behind.
4. Skipping between your teeth. A toothbrush cannot fully clean where teeth touch. Food and plaque left there can make your whole mouth feel unclean.
5. A worn brush or head. Splayed bristles do not hold their shape against the tooth. See our guide to when to replace your toothbrush head.
6. Dry mouth. Saliva helps rinse your teeth naturally. When your mouth is dry, from some medicines, breathing through your mouth or not drinking enough water, teeth can feel sticky.
7. Tartar. Plaque that is not removed can harden into tartar, which feels rough and cannot be brushed away. It needs a professional clean.

A step by step fix

Try this routine morning and night for a couple of weeks:

1. Use a soft brush or an electric toothbrush with a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.
2. Angle the bristles at about 45 degrees towards the gumline.
3. Brush for a full two minutes, giving each quarter of your mouth about 30 seconds.
4. Clean every surface: outside, inside and the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
5. Use a light touch. Pressing harder does not clean better.
6. Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes.
7. Brush your tongue gently, or use a tongue scraper, to help with freshness.
8. Spit, do not rinse, so the fluoride stays on your teeth.
9. Replace your brush or head about every three months.

Our guide to brushing with a sonic toothbrush shows the technique in more detail.

When the toothbrush is part of the problem

Technique matters most, but your brush can make good technique easier or harder.

• Timing: many electric toothbrushes include a two minute timer. PulseONE's SmartSense Brushing technology adds a short buzz every 30 seconds, so each quarter of your mouth gets equal time.
• Motion: a sonic brush moves the bristles for you. PulseONE's SonicSweep technology makes 38,000 movements a minute, with the head sweeping 45 degrees side to side, so you can glide rather than scrub.
• Comfort: if your teeth or gums are sensitive, a gentler mode helps you brush thoroughly without discomfort. PulseONE has Sensitive, Deep Clean and Polishing modes.

If you are weighing up a new brush, our compare page sets out the options side by side.

When to see your dentist

If your teeth still feel dirty after a few weeks of careful brushing and daily cleaning between teeth, it is time for a check up. See your dentist sooner if you notice:

• rough patches that brushing does not shift, which may be tartar
• bleeding, swollen or sore gums
• persistent bad breath or a bad taste
• a mouth that often feels dry

A professional clean removes tartar, and your dentist can check for anything else behind the feeling.

Questions

Why do my teeth feel dirty even though I brush twice a day?

Brushing twice a day is right, but how you brush matters too. Rushing, missing the gumline and skipping between your teeth can all leave plaque behind. Two full minutes, a 45 degree angle and daily flossing usually make a clear difference.

Is it normal for teeth to feel rough after brushing?

Clean teeth usually feel smooth. A rough or furry feel often means plaque is left, while a rough patch that never changes may be tartar, which your dentist can remove.

Can mouthwash fix teeth that feel dirty?

Mouthwash can freshen your breath, but it does not remove plaque the way brushing and flossing do. Use it as an extra if your dentist recommends one, not as a replacement.

How do I know if I have plaque buildup?

Signs include a fuzzy feel on your teeth, a soft whitish or yellowish film near the gumline and bad breath. Your dentist can confirm it and show you the areas you tend to miss.

Get a cleaner feel with PulseONE

PulseONE is A$228 and helps with the habits behind that dirty feeling: SmartSense pacing for the full two minutes, SonicSweep cleaning and three modes. Designed in Australia, with our 7 day smile guarantee.