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How long should you brush your teeth every day?

Brushing your teeth properly is paramount when trying to maintain good oral hygiene. We all have been taught by our...
By Agencies

Photo:womenshealthmag


Brushing your teeth properly is paramount when trying to maintain good oral hygiene. We all have been taught by our teachers and parents to brush our teeth twice in a day. Every morning after rolling out the bed, we take the brush, put toothpaste on it and scrub our teeth. But do you really think this is enough to keep our mouth healthy and free from dental issues? Probably not!


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How long should you brush your teeth




It is important to brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice daily. Two minutes does not really sound a lot, but when you start brushing our teeth, chances are that you may not be doing it this long. So it is better to set the timer or play your favourite song to keep a track of the time. Also, make sure that you are using the right angle and putting the right pressure while brushing your teeth. Excessive pressure can lead to erosion of the topmost layer of the teeth and bleeding of gums.




What science says?




Even science believes that it is important to brush your teeth for two minutes. A study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene says that the longer you brush your teeth, the more plaque you remove, but it is important to maintain the time frame. The study recorded the effect of brushing time on a plaque from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. They found that people who brushed their teeth for 45 seconds removed 25 percent less plaque than people who brushed for two minutes.




What else you should do for your oral health?




Apart from brushing your teeth every day, it is also important to floss your teeth and use mouthwash. Flossing helps to clean the plaque stuck in between your teeth and keep tooth decaying bacteria at bay. Similarly, mouthwash helps to remove the plaque left in the mouth after brushing and flossing. Use alcohol-free mouthwash, so it does not dry your mouth.

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