Brushing Up: How to Brush Your Teeth for a Sparkling Smile

Do you brush your teeth every day? And if so, how many times a day? Is it after every meal, or do you stick to the basics, morning and night, before and after sleep? And here's another important question – how long are you actually brushing for?

Dr. Hadas Leibovitz-Kot, an expert in pediatric dentistry and a medical supervisor at the Machabident network, published an article on YNET tackling the crucial question: How long should we ideally be brushing our teeth each time?

According to her, "Brushing your teeth is a daily habit that effectively helps prevent two of the most common chronic diseases globally: cavities and gum disease. Both impact a wide age range and pose a significant public health challenge, with bacteria in the oral cavity being the common cause of both diseases."

She further explains that "it takes just a few hours for plaque to form on teeth, and without regular and effective removal, it can lead to easily preventable diseases. The current recommendation is to brush teeth in the morning and evening. However, it's not always clear what the exact process should be, how to choose a toothbrush and toothpaste, and why twice a day is necessary."

Regarding toothbrush selection, she states: "The most effective method for removing food residues and plaque is tooth brushing. Commercial companies invest significant effort in designing brushes to enhance their effectiveness. Nowadays, both manual and electric brushes, soft and hard, are available. For manual brushes, it has been found that heads with bristles of varied angles and lengths are more effective at cleaning teeth compared to flat-bristled ones. It's important to note that very soft brushes aren't effective for daily brushing, but in certain cases, such as post-operation, they have their advantages."

"On the question of using an electric brush, studies have shown a better cleaning efficiency with electric brushes. However, manual brushes are also effective and can achieve a good and satisfactory level of cleaning."

So how long should we brush? "Most people brush their teeth for too short a time (20 to 30 seconds on average) to maintain optimal oral health. The duration of brushing directly affects the amount of bacteria removed," she concludes. "Studies demonstrated that brushing for two minutes removes nearly 50% of plaque, so the recommendation is to brush for no less than two minutes and to incorporate flossing every time."

She adds that daily use of mouthwash is advised, although it should not replace tooth brushing.