Brushing our teeth has become a daily routine for most of us. It has become a habit, and many of us do it without thinking. Brushing our teeth is the key to dental and oral health. Your teeth are important for eating, speaking, and shaping your face, which is why it is important to clean your teeth everyday.
So the question is, how many times should you brush your teeth in a day? This article will look at the most commonly-asked questions related to brushing teeth:
- How many times should you brush your teeth in a day?
- Is brushing your teeth often better for your dental health?
- How long should you brush your teeth?
- When is the right time to brush your teeth?
- How to brush your teeth properly and correctly?
How Many Times Should You Brush Your Teeth In A Day?
As we already know, brushing and flossing teeth help remove food debris, bacteria, plaque (a sticky white film that forms on your teeth and contains bacteria), and stains that can damage teeth. If not properly cleaned, teeth can turn yellow, plagued, brittle, damaged by cavities, and eventually removed.
So, how often should you brush your teeth in a day? Brushing your teeth twice a day with toothpaste for 2 minutes is enough – preferably after breakfast and before bed. Doing this alone is enough to promote oral health, reducing plaque to decreasing the risk of cavities.
Is Brushing Your Teeth Often Better for Your Dental Health?
Brushing your teeth twice daily is excellent for your overall dental health. Anything above two or three times is considered overbrushing. Brushing teeth too often does more damage than good. Excessive teeth brushing can wear down the teeth’s protective barriers, causing tooth abrasion and damage to gums. Tooth abrasion is the gradual loss of enamel and cementum. Another problem from overbrushing is teeth discoloration.
Overbrushing is especially bad for children. Children aged 8 years and younger are still developing their permanent teeth. They may get dental fluorosis (pronounced “floo-roh-sis”) when they overbrush their teeth with toothpaste that contains too much fluoride. Dental fluorosis is a common disorder and can be seen as very fine pearly white lines or flecking on the teeth’ surface. Children over eight years, adolescents and adults cannot get dental fluorosis.
How Long Should You Brush Your Teeth?
Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day helps keep your mouth healthy. As we all know, tooth brushing stops plaque from building up.
Based on a study published in 2009, it turns out that most people only brush their teeth for 45 seconds. The recommended duration is two minutes. The study results suggest that increasing brushing time from 45 seconds to 2 minutes could help remove up to 26 percent more dental plaque.
When is The Right Time To Brush Your Teeth
Most people have the habit of brushing their teeth before going to bed and after waking up. Cleaning your teeth after you wake up helps rid of harmful plaque and bacteria built overnight, which helps keep your mouth clean.
You will eat meals and snacks throughout the day. Your teeth need to be cleaned of plaque and food debris leftover from eating all day at the end of the day. Brushing teeth before going to bed is recommended because it helps remove bacteria. Find what works for your schedule and what keeps your teeth clean.
30 Minutes After Eating
As for brushing teeth after or before eating, it is better to wait for 30 minutes. Waiting is especially advised if you consume acidic foods and drinks like toast, citrus, and coffee. Waiting 30 minutes to an hour after eating to brush your teeth is best to protect your teeth and not tamper with your enamel.
High acidic foods can damage the tooth enamel and weaken your gum line, which exposes your teeth’ inner layer. Brushing teeth immediately after eating acidic foods may damage the enamel while it’s in its weakened state. If you consume anything with high sugar or carbs, brushing your teeth afterward is also a good idea to keep your mouth clean .
How to Brush Your Teeth Properly and Correctly
Plaque and bacteria continually form on teeth and around the gumline. Regular teeth brushing helps remove them. Plaque can lead to cavities, tooth decay, and other dental problems when not removed regularly. Let’s look at some tips for better toothbrushing to help maintain your dental and oral health:
Make it a habit
Set at least two regular times to brush your teeth. Create teeth brushing as a habit around some of your normal daily activities. Some examples are doing it “first thing in the morning,” “after eating,” or “before going to bed.” If brushing teeth has not been a part of your everyday routine, give it some time. It takes about two weeks to create a habit before your brain turns a task to auto-pilot.
Don’t do it too often
How many times should you brush your teeth daily? Brushing your teeth 2-3 times a day is ideal. On the other hand, brushing your teeth more than 3 times a day can damage the outer layer of your teeth and injure your gums.
Brush gently
Overly vigorous brushing can cause tooth decay or bleeding gums. Hold the toothbrush handle as if you were holding a pencil, not with too much force, for better control of brushing strength. Practise the correct strokes to clean your teeth and mouth through brushing. Use short circular, up-and-down strokes. Brushing teeth vigorously does not deep-clean the teeth. It can actually damage your tooth enamel and irritate your gums.
Don’t rush
Take your time when brushing your teeth. Brushing teeth in a hurry might not get them properly cleaned. Give at least 30 seconds when brushing each row of teeth. You can also set a timer to ensure you’re giving your teeth enough attention. The recommended brushing time is 2 minutes. There are some tips to ensure you’re putting in the full two minutes when brushing your teeth. You can try to set a timer on your phone, play a 2-minute song or count to 120 in your head slowly.
Conclusion
Nobody likes dealing with tooth decay, toothache and other dental issues. Prevention is always better than treatment. Brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing are healthy habits. A regular dental checkup is also advised to keep your smile fresh and healthy.
Sometimes, the key is not so much on the number and more on the efficiency. Schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at Eastman Dental to get your dental health checked. We can also address any questions or concerns about brushing teeth properly; how and when to do it.