The process of cleaning your teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste in order to keep them healthy and remove plaque.
example
Vergiss das Zähneputzen vor dem Schlafengehen nicht!
Don't forget to brush your teeth before going to bed!
Usage tips
Word structure
'Zähneputzen' (tooth brushing) is a nominalized verb. It comes from the activity 'Zähne putzen' (to brush one's teeth). Such nouns formed from an infinitive are always neuter in German and take the article 'das'.
EXAMPLE
Das schnelle Autofahren auf dieser Straße ist gefährlich.
Driving fast on this road is dangerous.
Noun vs. verb
The noun 'das Zähneputzen' (tooth brushing) is used to talk about the activity in general. If you want to say that a person is performing the action, you use the verb construction 'sich die Zähne putzen' (to brush one's teeth).
EXAMPLE
Das Zähneputzen ist ein wichtiger Teil der Morgenroutine.
Brushing your teeth is an important part of the morning routine.
Typical prepositions
The noun is very often used with temporal prepositions to place the activity within a daily routine. Typical phrases are 'beim', 'vor dem', and 'nach dem' Zähneputzen (while/before/after brushing your teeth).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Zähneputzen solltest du nichts Süßes mehr essen.
After brushing your teeth, you shouldn't eat anything sweet.