How often should you brush your teeth?

It is always said that you should brush your teeth twice daily, but is that really necessary? The answer is yes. When you brush, the goal is to remove food particles and bacteria from your mouth. A thin, sticky film of bacteria (called plaque) forms on your teeth, and by brushing you remove it. Plaque takes close to 24 hours to form, so brushing once a day would keep you safe from it. However, if you let the bacteria stay in your mouth for such long periods, you will be more susceptible to cavities.

Therefore, it is advisable to brush twice a day – at night before going to bed, and in the morning right after you wake up. If you don’t fancy brushing early in the morning, you can also brush after breakfast, or lunch. If you must, you can avoid using toothpaste in the morning for a less messy experience, but it is strongly recommended that you brush using Fluoride toothpaste at least once daily.

Now, what if you’re in a situation where you can only brush once? Maybe you’re too tired to, or have limited supplies of water – like when out camping. If you must choose between morning and night, it’s better to brush at night . Just remember to wait at least 30 minutes after your meals, as acidic food, when coupled with toothpaste, can wear away your tooth enamel.

Now that it’s clear how often you should brush your teeth, you might be wondering why it’s important to do so. Brushing your teeth and tongue helps keep your mouth clean, which in turn protects you from cavities, disease-causing bacteria, yellow teeth, and bad breath. Gum disease can be painful and embarrassing, and dirt, if not cleaned regularly, will build up and harden – causing pain and severe health problems.

If you have any other questions, leave a comment below!