• Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
Podcast
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
24/7 Health News
No Result
View All Result
Home Article

Is brushing your teeth for two minutes enough? Here’s what the evidence says

October 26, 2021
in Article
0
Is brushing your teeth for two minutes enough? Here’s what the evidence says
file 20211026 23 2je9r8
The two minute rule has been recommended since the 70s. WAYHOME studio/ Shutterstock

A lot of us are familiar with the advice that we should brush our teeth twice a day, and for at least two minutes each time. Many of us over-estimate how long we brush our teeth for – by as much as a whole minute in some cases. And yet there’s some evidence that even two minutes of teeth brushing may not be enough.

According to research, to remove as much plaque as possible more is better – with the best results at three to four minutes. Does that mean we should double our brushing time?

Dentists began recommending we should brush our teeth for two minutes in the 1970s, and later on, to use a toothbrush with soft bristles. However, today’s consensus is mostly based on studies published since the 1990s, which looked at brushing times, techniques and toothbrush type.

These studies showed two minutes of brushing led to good (but not excellent) plaque reduction. But, while brushing longer than two minutes is shown to remove more plaque, there’s still a lack of research which has looked at whether more than two minutes of brushing is linked with better long-term oral health compared with two minutes.

However, based on what we know of the harms of plaque overgrowth, it’s likely that removing more of it each time we brush is linked to better oral health. It’s also important to note that this lack of evidence is because long-term studies can be difficult to conduct.

When we brush our teeth, we do so with the main aim of removing microbes (known as dental plaque) from tooth surfaces. This plaque is an accumulation of bacteria, fungi and viruses that live together in a community known as a microbial biofilm. Biofilms are very sticky and can only be removed by brushing.

Many things can make it easier for these microbes to grow, including rough areas on the tooth’s surface (such as from some fillings), being unable to reach certain areas with a toothbrush (like the spaces between teeth), or having braces. In fact, plaque biofilms re-grow on our teeth within hours of brushing – which is why we’re advised to brush twice a day.

Not brushing our teeth properly or for long enough can lead to higher levels of plaque, which may ultimately activate our body’s immune response – eventually leading to inflammation and conditions such as gingivitis. Inflammation is usually not painful, but often causes bleeding gums when brushing and sometimes bad breath. Biolfilms can also cause tooth decay.

Proper technique

The aim of brushing our teeth is to reduce as much plaque on each tooth as possible.

Current evidence suggests that spending more time brushing – up to four minutes each time you brush – leads to cleaner teeth. This longer brushing time means we can more effectively clean our teeth and get those hard-to-reach places.

But be careful not to brush too often (such as more than two times a day) and avoid brushing hard or using abrasive toothpastes and brushes, as this can also cause damage to our teeth and gums – especially when using a toothbrush with hard bristles or abrasive toothpastes.

There are many different brushing techniques you can use to brush your teeth properly. One of the most recommended ones is the modified “Bass” technique, which is intended to clean at and below the gum line – the area where plaque forms first and is most likely to cause inflammation.

You should always brush your teeth with a gentle force – though precisely how hard this should be is currently not conclusive. Gentle brushing is preferred so that we don’t damage the hard and soft tissues in our mouth.

Many factors can affect which type of technique, brush and toothpaste or floss you use. For example, people who may have damaged the surface of their teeth from drinking too many acidic fizzy drinks may have weaker teeth.

This may mean they’re more susceptible to further tooth damage if they use abrasive toothpastes and harder bristles. It’s worth consulting your dentist to know what you should use to brush.

Interdental cleaning – which most of us know simply as flossing – is also recommended alongside brushing our teeth. Studies have found that both tooth decay and gingivitis can be reduced by flossing.

The most effective way of flossing is sliding the floss between the gums and tooth and holding it firmly against the tooth – such that the floss “hugs it” – and rubbing along the surface of the tooth in a gentle up and down motion, gently advancing the floss beneath the gum line.

Interdental brushes, which can be pushed between the teeth at the gum level, can be even more effective. Less is known about other cleaning aids – including tooth picks, water jets, or tongue clears – and how effective they are.

While we may be used to the advice that we should brush our teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, it’s important that we also concentrate on using proper technique to ensure that we’re brushing thoroughly and properly. Brushing for longer than two minutes may also help us ensure that we remove more plaque off of our teeth – which will likely lead to better dental health.

The Conversation

Josefine Hirschfeld ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

ShareTweetSharePin
Previous Post

Financial insecurity and right-wing beliefs drive COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Albertans

Next Post

Dog bites happen every day but urban pet policies can help prevent them

Next Post
Dog bites happen every day, often to children, but urban pet policies can help prevent them

Dog bites happen every day but urban pet policies can help prevent them

Most Read

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

December 15, 2022
morning back pain

Morning Again Ache Trigger Is Not the Mattress

October 11, 2021
lower back pain relief exercises

5 decrease again ache aid workouts

October 11, 2021
3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

October 15, 2021
bleeding in gum

When The Bleeding in gum Is Severe ?

October 11, 2021
Good Night Sleep

6 Causes of Good Evening Sleep

October 11, 2021
Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

December 14, 2022

COVID vaccines: how one can pace up rollout in poorer international locations

October 5, 2021
Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

October 12, 2021
Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

January 3, 2023
Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

December 1, 2021
Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

December 16, 2021

Multiple sclerosis: the link with earlier infection just got stronger – new study

October 12, 2021
The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

January 4, 2022
As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

December 14, 2022
News of war can impact your mental health — here’s how to cope

Binge-eating disorder is more common than many realise, yet it’s rarely discussed – here’s what you need to know

December 2, 2022
GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

December 16, 2022
Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

December 22, 2022
Heart disease risk from saturated fats may depend on what foods they come from – new research

Heart disease risk from saturated fats may depend on what foods they come from – new research

November 29, 2021
How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

July 6, 2022
Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

December 30, 2022
How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

October 24, 2021
Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

December 2, 2022
Late night eating may cause greater weight gain – new research points to why

Late night eating may cause greater weight gain – new research points to why

October 12, 2022
How the relationships we have with plants contribute to human health in many ways

How the relationships we have with plants contribute to human health in many ways

October 29, 2021

10 Things I Learned During My Body Transformation

October 12, 2021
Chronic pain: An invisible disease whose sufferers are unfairly stigmatized

Chronic pain: An invisible disease whose sufferers are unfairly stigmatized

December 22, 2022
Better sleep for kids starts with better sleep for parents – especially after holiday disruptions to routines

Better sleep for kids starts with better sleep for parents – especially after holiday disruptions to routines

December 27, 2022
Too hot to handle: Climate considerations for youth sport during the hottest years on record

Too hot to handle: Climate considerations for youth sport during the hottest years on record

July 19, 2022
How to keep your pets safe in a heatwave

How to keep your pets safe in a heatwave

July 15, 2022
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS

  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS