What’s Up With Brushing Your Teeth For Exactly Two Minutes?
Some things feel like they’re going to take forever, like standing in line for bubble tea, waiting for your Grab to arrive when you’re running late, and brushing your teeth for two whole minutes.
We were all taught to brush our teeth for two minutes, twice a day, but did you ever wonder why?
Brushing for at least two minutes a day is great for your oral health.
Science shows it really can boost your oral health. In fact, brushing fewer than two times a day was consistently associated with more tooth decay. Tooth decay happens when the bacteria in your mouth produces acid that eats away at your enamel. They can also damage your gums and cause gingivitis and other gum diseases.
If you brush for fewer than two minutes twice a day, you might not be cleaning your teeth thoroughly.
When you brush your teeth, you’re not just supposed to get the outside surfaces. You’re also supposed to get the inside surfaces – the backs of your teeth and the sides of your molars closest to your tongue. You’re supposed to clean the chewing surfaces, too, along with the places where your teeth and gums meet.
If you’re only spending about a minute brushing your teeth, chances are you’ll miss some of these spots or not give them enough attention. That can allow plaque to remain and harden into tartar, which simple toothbrushing can’t remove. Even in a random brushing pattern, two minutes is enough time to make sure all your surfaces are covered.
Brushing more than twice a day is usually not required for good oral health
Spending more than four minutes a day brushing your teeth isn’t necessary for most people, unless they eat a lot of sugary snacks or have a history of gum disease.
As long as you’re brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time you’re doing a lot to keep your mouth healthy.
With that said, maintaining oral health isn’t just a matter of brushing your teeth and flossing. You’ll still want to reach out to your dentist regularly for checkups and to notify them if you spot anything unusual.
At TAG Dental Clinic, our experts are always ready to answer your questions about caring for and maintaining your bright smiles so don’t hesitate to book an appointment with us.