Should You be Brushing teeth 5 times a Day? (9 Brushing Tips)
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “brushing teeth 5 times a day” and cover topics like how many times and for how long you should brush your teeth, what is the correct way to brush your teeth and things to keep in mind to get healthy and strong teeth.
Should I be brushing my teeth 5 times a day?
Brushing teeth twice a day for two minutes each time is recommended by the American Dental Association and generally does not have any disadvantages.
Brushing teeth 5 times a day becomes a disadvantage as it involves over-brushing. Over-brushing your teeth not only means brushing your teeth more times than recommended but also brushing incorrectly with extra force and pace.
It is therefore advised to concentrate more on “how” you brush your teeth rather than “how much” you brush your teeth.
Vigorous and fast brushing regularly, with too much force can cause the outermost layer of teeth to erode, increasing the risk for dental abrasion, tooth sensitivity, and gum recession.
Brushing Your Teeth: How Many Times & For How Long?
It is recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time with a toothpaste containing fluoride.
It is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day, once in the morning, just after waking up and once at night, just before going to bed.
You must also clean your teeth and gums, each time after you have food but not with a toothbrush. Simple rinse with water is considered good for overall oral health and hygiene.
While considering when to brush your teeth, you must keep in mind the type of food you just had.
Do not brush immediately after having any acidic food or drink as these acids weaken tooth enamel, and brushing immediately can cause enamel wearing or erosion making your teeth more susceptible to developing cavities.
How should I brush my teeth?
Here is how you can brush your teeth in 2 mins with correct technique and avoid over-brushing and its associated discomfort:
- Use a small amount of water to lubricate your brush.
- Put a small, pea-size amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush head.
- At about a 45-degree angle to your gums , place the toothbrush into your mouth
- Use gentle, short strokes to brush your front teeth.
- Brush the outside surfaces as well as the back molars and upper areas of your chewing surfaces.
- Brush the inside surfaces of both top and bottom front teeth by flipping your toothbrush upside down.
- Brush your tongue to get rid of any bacteria or plaque.
- Spit out the remnants of toothpaste, saliva, and water into a clean sink.
- Rinse your mouth with cold water and you are done.
When is the best time to brush my teeth?
Morning Vs. Night
While it is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to bed, brushing at night is actually more beneficial.
It is actually better to brush in the night because the saliva production reduces significantly at night. This makes the plaque formation and bacterial attack to your tooth enamel more significant and cause more damage.
During the day, saliva production is optimum. Saliva has antibacterial properties and also acid neutralizing action. Thus, plaque formation is not much significant during the day.
Just After Meal Or Delay Brushing After Meal
You must wait for 30 minutes after consumption of acidic foods and drinks. The acid in the food or drink otherwise may erode the enamel layer and regular habit may cause exposed dentin leading to pain and sensitivity.
Does the type of toothbrush matter?
Yes. It is of utmost importance to choose your toothbrush according to your mouth and gum condition.
A soft-bristled toothbrush is good to clean your teeth as using a hard-bristled toothbrush may abrade the enamel and lead to dental abrasion and recession of gums.
Replace your toothbrush after every 3 months or as soon as you notice the bristles of your toothbrush beginning to bend, fray, and wear out.
MANUAL OR ELECTRIC?
A 2014 study concluded that electric toothbrushes may be more effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis than manual brushes in the short and long term.
Electric toothbrushes with rotating heads showed the best results.
Brush Your Teeth The Correct Way: Things To Keep In Mind
Choose an appropriate toothbrush
Choosing an appropriate toothbrush is the first and most important step towards toothbrushing. Yet, this is neglected by most of the people.
Toothbrushes with more rounded bristles are soft to your teeth and are considered to be an ideal toothbrush to use.
Do Not Immediately Brush after Eating Acidic Foods
You must wait for 30 minutes to one hour after consumption of acidic foods and drinks. The acid in the food or drink otherwise may erode the enamel layer and regular habit may cause exposed dentin leading to pain and sensitivity and increased risk of developing cavities.
Use Gentle and Short Strokes When Brushing Your Teeth
Use gentle, short strokes to brush your front teeth and thoroughly clean your mouth without abrading the enamel.
Brush the outside surfaces as well as the back molars and upper areas of your chewing surfaces. Brush the inside surfaces of both top and bottom front teeth by flipping your toothbrush upside down.
Brush your tongue to get rid of any bacteria or plaque.
Use a fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride can greatly help achieve oral and dental health by strengthening the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay.
Fluoride reduces the amount of acid produced by the bacteria on your mouth.
Floss Daily To Get Maximum Benefits Out Of Tooth Brushing
Many people, despite knowing the benefits of flossing daily, just neglect it.
According to a study, flossing is highly effective in reducing the interproximal caries risk.
Daily floss can help stimulate your gums and reduce plaque leading to lesser inflammation risk.
Consider mouthwash
Therapeutic mouthwashes as the name suggests have therapeutic action and control dental conditions like gingivitis, tooth decay and periodontal diseases. They also help remove halitosis.
Therapeutic Mouthwashes contain ADA listed active ingredients such as fluoride, peroxide, essential oils, cetylpyridinium chloride, and chlorhexidine, all regulated by the FDA.
See your dentist at least twice a year
It is important to get your oral health checked twice every year with an interval of 6 months between two visits.
Your dentist can help remove calculus and locate cavities and will also be able to spot potential oral health issues, if any, and offer treatment solutions.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the topic, “Disadvantages of Brushing Teeth twice a day”. We understood that over-brushing teeth can cause multiple problems and learnt what the recommended brushing time and number is. The article outlined the correct brushing techniques to avoid over-brushing and reasons why you must brush twice a day.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Brushing Teeth 5 Times A Day
What is the maximum number of times I can brush my teeth?
You must brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each using a proper toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste.
This will prevent plaque accumulation and keep your mouth free from dental caries or any gum diseases.
Is brushing your teeth without toothpaste effective?
In a six-month trial published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, patients who brushed their teeth with a toothbrush without using toothpaste reported a 63% reduction in plaque build-up, and a 55% drop in bleeding.
Brushing without toothpaste is just as effective in removing plaque and in some cases it’s more effective as the studies reveal.
How do I get into the habit of brushing my teeth twice a day, every day?
To get into the habit of brushing your teeth twice a day, everyday, follow these steps:
- Keep your toothbrush in a place where you can see it everyday
- Get a colourful toothbrush that is not dull and it must be comfortable for you to use
- Put toothbrushing on your To-Do list and reward yourself each day you complete your task.
- Get a toothpaste that makes your mouth feel fresh and excites you
Is it better to brush your teeth at night or in the morning?
While it is recommended to brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to bed, brushing at night is actually more beneficial.
It is actually better to brush in the night because the saliva production reduces significantly at night. This makes the plaque formation and bacterial attack to your tooth enamel more significant and cause more damage.
During the day, saliva production is optimum. Saliva has antibacterial properties and also acid neutralizing action. Thus, plaque formation is not much significant during the day.
What is the best time to brush teeth?
The best time to brush your teeth is at night, just before going to bed as it keeps the bacterial load in mouth at minimum which is essential as saliva production is reduced significantly at night.
Other FAQs about Teeth brushing that you may be interested in.
Can You Brush Your Teeth Too Much?
Can You Brush Your Enamel Off?
Can You Brush Your Teeth With Hydrogen Peroxide?
References:
- Is Over Brushing Your Teeth Bad?
- How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth? (2021)
- How Many Times Should You Brush Your Teeth a Day?
- Stoltze, K. and Bay, L. (1994), Comparison of a manual and a new electric toothbrush for controlling plaque and gingivitis. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 21: 86-90. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-051X.1994.tb00284.x
- 11 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy. (2019)
- Brushing Teeth without a toothpaste
- Yaacob M, Worthington HV, Deacon SA, Deery C, Walmsley AD, Robinson PG, Glenny AM. Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD002281. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002281.pub3. Accessed 27 October 2021.
- Hujoel, P. P., et al. “Dental flossing and interproximal caries: a systematic review.” Journal of dental research 85.4 (2006): 298-305.