How Much Toothpaste Do You Actually Need When Brushing? Dentists Reveal the Answer

We all know that brushing our teeth is important. However, it's easy to make mistakes during one's dental hygiene routine.

In fact, people often believe they are doing much better job at cleaning their teeth than they are in reality, leading dental experts recently told NBC News.

Aside from improper technique, a common mistake has to do with toothpaste. If you’re used to squeezing out an inch-long glob onto your brush, you may be surprised to learn that it takes far less to get your teeth clean. Plus, too much toothpaste isn't always better, experts say.

Expert Tip of the Day: Use a Pea-Sized Amount of Toothpaste

You only need to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste when you brush your teeth, Lancette VanGuilder, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, told NBC News recently.

The mechanical action of flossing and brushing alone can remove the food debris and plaque, a sticky biofilm of bacteria, on and between teeth.

Toothpaste isn't absolutely necessary to clean your teeth, but it can aid this process and banish bad breath by making our mouth minty fresh. Plus, most toothpaste contains fluoride, which helps strengthen enamel and prevent tooth decay.

Using excess toothpaste may give the illusion that your mouth is cleaner, but experts say too much can actually be a bad thing.

Why It Matters

“Toothpastes have surfactants (a detergent) ... which makes your teeth feel smooth, so you have an almost immediate sensation that you’ve cleaned your teeth when probably you haven’t done a good job,” leading dental researcher Dr. Fridus van der Weijden, told NBC News.

Using too much toothpaste can also cause the mouth to fill up with foam, which may disguise the fact that your gums are bleeding, says VanGuilder. Bloody gums during or after brushing is a warning sign you should mention to your dentist, he adds.

That's because bleeding gums are often an early indicator of gingivitis, a form of gum disease, which can be reversible when caught early, per the American Dental Association.

Properly cleaning your teeth is important for your oral and overall health, experts say. Gum disease and tooth decay are linked with other health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, per the ADA.

How to Get Started

When choosing a toothpaste, look for one that contains fluoride, per the ADA. If you're prone to sensitivity, the best toothpaste may be a "sensitive" variety, which has ingredients that dampen nerve signals that cause pain, TODAY.com previously reported.

Next, opt for a soft-bristled brush that can reach all surfaces of your teeth, says VanGuilder.

Aim to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily, the ADA says. Here's a basic dental routine breakdown:

• Floss or use a water flosser.

• Brush for at least two minutes with toothpaste.

• Spit out any excess toothpaste.

• Repeat this step before bedtime.

If you're not sure about whether you're using the right products or technique, talk to your dentist.