You are here looking for the no BS answer to the question: How Often Should I Brush My Teeth?
How often should I brush my teeth? This is the doubt which persists in many curious minds.
Of course, brushing is essential for healthy teeth and maintaining oral hygiene.
In addition, it prevents your teeth from gum diseases and also cavities. But how many times should we brush our teeth? Is it sufficient to brush once a day, or should we brush for 2/3/4 times?
How Often Should I Brush My Teeth?
According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride-based toothpaste. Gently brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes.
Brushing your teeth helps you to clean the food debris and white-sticky plaque.
The plaque harbors bacteria, and when you eat something sweet, these bacteria form acids causing enamel erosion. This can further form cavities.
Plaque, if not cleaned, can turn into hard tartar and is challenging to clean. This can also cause a burning sensation in your gums and gum diseases.
You should take proper care before brushing your teeth. Don’t brush your teeth after having anything acidic.
Acidic substances make the enamel weak, and brushing your teeth just after eating something acidic can cause enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity. You should wait at least 30 minutes after you eat acidic food items.
Apart from brushing your teeth, you can adopt many other methods to keep better oral hygiene. These are:
- Use a mouthwash to floss regularly.
- Keep yourself hydrated
- Avoid having snacks again and again.
- Healthy diet plan
- Avoiding sugar-rich food items
Negative Impacts Of Not Brushing Your Teeth
If you forgot or avoided brushing your teeth once in a while, then it will not cause any harm to your teeth. But what if you made it a daily routine!
It will put you in great trouble and cause cavities, gum infections, and other dental problems.
Plaque formation is very common if you don’t brush regularly. This may turn into hard tartar and can cause cavities.
In addition, plaque contains a lot of bacteria that produce acid and causes enamel erosion.
Plaque deposition also increases the chances of Gingivitis, which causes a burning sensation in gums, pain, and bleeding gums.
Gingivitis can further lead to periodontitis (gum infection). As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this can pull out your teeth.
Also read: How Often Should You Whiten Your Teeth?
How To Brush Your Teeth Without A Toothbrush?
Are there ways to brush your teeth without a toothbrush? Yes, there are many ways to do so.
- Using a damp towel or cloth: A wet towel can be used to brush your teeth if you have forgotten or don’t have your toothbrush. You just need to soak one corner of the towel in water and apply toothpaste to it. If you don’t have toothpaste, then it’s also fine. Now, gently rub the cloth on your teeth with the help of your index finger to brush your teeth.
- By leaves or twigs: You should find a bendable twig that does not have bark on it. Chop the ends of the twig, and this will allow you to see small fibers. These fibers act like a toothbrush to clean your teeth.
- You can also use your index finger to brush your teeth.
Summary
How often should I brush my teeth? Experts recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day to have better oral health.
There are no restrictions if you choose to brush more than two times but remember not to exert too much pressure while brushing.
Also, avoid brushing your teeth for at least 30 minutes after eating anything acidic to prevent enamel erosion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brushing Your Teeth Three Times A Day Too Much?
Brushing your teeth three times in no way has shown a negative impact on your dental health. However, brushing your teeth just after an acidic meal can cause enamel erosion. Also, brushing your teeth with force or too hard damages your teeth. It does not depend on the number of times you brush.
Is It Okay To Brush Once A Day?
According to the American Dental Association, the effects of brushing lasts for 12 hours, and it is recommended to brush at least twice a day. However, if you brush your teeth once a day but correctly, then it is fine. For more healthy teeth, you should brush more.
Is It Better To Brush Before Or After Breakfast?
The straight answer is you should brush your teeth before breakfast. This will allow you to clean the plaque build-up over the night before with an additional build-up due to breakfast. Also, it prevents bacteria from entering your stomach along with your breakfast. If you choose to brush after breakfast, then you should wait for at least 30 minutes.
What is The Best Way to Brush Your Teeth?
First, start with the outer surfaces of your teeth. Then, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and brush against the gum lines. Move the brush gently using short and tooth-wide strokes. Next clean the inner surfaces of your teeth and the chewing surfaces. Tilt the brush vertically and move it up and down when cleaning the inner surfaces. Finally, brush your tongue to eliminate odor-causing bacteria.
