How often should you brush your teeth?

You may think this is a trick question – you are supposed to brush after every meal, right? However, as we all know, sometimes this isn’t as easy as it sounds. For many of us, it just isn’t feasible to brush our teeth throughout the day. Perhaps the better rule is to brush your teeth at least twice a day, to make sure you have a healthy smile and prevent serious problems down the road. 

Brush in the morning

Do you prefer to brush as soon as you get out of bed or after breakfast? Whenever you prefer to do it, the important thing is that you do brush your teeth after waking up and before leaving the house. Your mouth makes less saliva as you sleep, an environment bacteria thrive in. Brushing in the morning helps to get rid of that bacteria (and doesn’t it feel good to replace that morning breath with that fresh, minty toothpaste taste?). 

Brush at night

Throughout the day, you not only accumulate food particles from all that you eat, but bacteria builds up on your teeth and gums (which can turn into plaque if not removed, which your dentist will have to clean off). Brushing your teeth before bed gets rid of this debris before it can produce acid, eat away at tooth enamel, and cause cavities and other dental problems. 

Most dentists agree that brushing your teeth twice a day will do. When you do brush, do it for at least 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, and don’t forget to floss. Make sure your teeth are healthy, by visiting your dentist at least twice a year for a good, thorough cleaning or whenever you have a problem. 

If you can brush after every meal, your teeth and gums (and your dentist) will love you for it. However, sometimes this just isn’t possible. So, take care of your teeth by brushing at least twice a day and visiting Soft Touch Dentistry twice a year. Contact them today for an appointment, at the Brighton office at (617) 782-9250 or the Newton office at (617) 332-8146.