Is There Any Difference in Brushing Twice vs. Once a Day? (5 Proven Benefits)
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “brushing twice a day vs once” and cover topics like the benefits of brushing twice a day, how brushing twice daily is more effective than brushing once per day and risks associated with brushing just one time per day.
Brushing twice a day vs once
Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste each time is recommended by the American Dental Association.
According to a study, brushing twice a day is associated with less malignancies than with brushing just once.
Brushing twice a day is also more effective in preventing cavities that form due to tooth decay.
Brushing Twice A Day or Just Once: Which Is More Effective In Preventing Tooth Decay?
Brushing twice a day is more effective in preventing tooth decay.
When you brush just once, food remnants remain stuck on your teeth causing bacteria to break down the sugar in the food and produce acids.
The acids along with plaque build up, results in eroding away and weakening the enamel, leading to tooth decay and formation of cavities.
Brushing your teeth twice a day will help you avoid these dental hygiene conditions.
Benefits Of Brushing Twice A Day Over Once
Brushing twice a day prevents Plaque Build Up
Brushing just once a day, either in the morning or at night, does not remove the food bits that remain stuck on your teeth.
As a result, the food debris is attacked by the bacteria forming a layer of plaque on your teeth and gums. The bacteria breaks down the food and releases acid.
The acid released erodes the enamel and weakens it to form cavities and thus resulting in tooth decay and gingival bleeding.
Brushing twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before going to bed, for two minutes is essential to prevent plaque build up and thereby prevent tooth decay.
Brushing Twice A Day Helps Prevent Tartar Buildup
Tartar is a calcified plaque on your teeth that forms when plaque is left undisturbed for about a day.
Brushing twice a day compared to brushing just once, removes the plaque before it hardens and calcifies to become tartar.
Tartar once formed, teeth become yellow and more prone to bacterial attack and decay and other periodontal diseases.
Brushing Twice Daily Prevents Bad Breath
Bad breath is often caused by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).
Anaerobic bacteria present on your tongue release these compounds, giving morning breath its characteristic stale, sulfur smell.
Brushing twice daily removes the anaerobic microbes causing bad breath and also maintains good oral hygiene.
Brushing Twice A Day Helps You Get A Whiter Teeth
When you do not brush your teeth for two times in a day, plaque build up occurs and the undisturbed plaque finally hardens to form tartar, giving a yellow hue to your teeth.
Eating and Drinking also allow accumulation of pigments on your teeth. These pigments give a yellow discoloration to your teeth.
Brushing twice a day does not allow these pigments to get absorbed in your enamel and thus prevents the yellow discoloration, giving your teeth a whiter look.
Brush Twice A Day For Healthy Gums
When you do not brush your teeth or brush it just once, plaque accumulation and acid production causes tooth decay as well as gum irritation.
The accumulated plaque may also result in periodontal diseases and cause gum bleeding.
So to limit plaque accumulation, acid production and tartar build up on your teeth and thereby prevent tooth decay, periodontal diseases and gum bleeding, brushing twice a day as recommended by ADA is essential.
Risks Associated With Brushing Teeth Only Once
Cavities
Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria that coats the protective enamel of your teeth. These bacteria produce acids by breaking down the food debris and the acids penetrate the enamel leading to cavities.
Potential tooth loss and other dental infections may occur if plaque is left undistributed. Brushing teeth twice can prevent plaque accumulation significantly and maintain good oral hygiene.
Gingivitis
Plaque can also weaken the gums and lead to gingivitis.
The bacteria present in plaque causes gum irritation and increases the risk of bleeding and swollen gums.
Periodontitis
Plaque causes cavities and gingivitis and if left untreated, gingivitis may even progress to periodontitis.
Periodontitis affects the tissues around the teeth and may contribute to tooth loss.
Heart disease
A study found that brushing teeth at least three times per day reduces the chances of developing atrial fibrillation and heart failure.
Pregnancy Issues
A study reported a significant increase in gingivitis and its severity during pregnancy.
According to the study, the calculus and debris accumulation also increased in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women.
It is also reported that pregnant mothers with oral health conditions are more likely to have children that are more to developing cavities.
Diabetes
Several studies have reported Periodontitis to be a complication of diabetes mellitus.
Some experts have reported Periodontitis to cause reduced insulin resistance.
Mouth And Stomach Ulcers
Helicobacter pylori is often known to hide under the gums due to poor oral hygiene and is frequently associated with stomach ulcers.
Oral Cancer
Studies indicate that periodontitis might aggravate the growth of cells in the mouth, leading to oral cancer.
When and how often should you brush your teeth?
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.
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.
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, “Brushing twice a day vs once”. We understood that brushing two times daily is more effective and beneficial for overall oral health. The article outlined the risks associated with brushing just once daily and also mentioned the correct brushing habits to be followed for good oral hygiene.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Brushing Twice A Day Vs. Once
How bad is it to only brush once a day?
It is actually not that bad to brush once a day than to not brush at all. Brushing once helps to reduce plaque accumulation and prevent decay and bad breath.
However, it is recommended to brush twice a day for two minutes each time for maximum benefits.
What happens if you brush twice a day?
Brushing your teeth two times daily for 2 minutes each can reduce the risk of cavities formation, gum disease, and other oral health conditions.
Make sure you follow the correct brushing technique, have proper brush selection, use a fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily to get maximum benefit.
Is brushing more than twice a day bad?
Over-brushing your teeth not only means brushing your teeth more times than recommended but also brushing incorrectly with extra force and pace.
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.
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
What Is The Best Time To Brush My Teeth, Morning Or 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.
Other FAQs about Teeth brushing that you may be interested in.
Does Brushing With Salt Whiten Teeth?
How Long Does It Take For Yellow Teeth To Turn White With Toothpaste
Why Are My Teeth Yellow When I Brush Them Everyday?
References:
- Frequency of Daily Tooth Brushing and Development of any Type of Malignancy
DAIKI KOBAYASHI, OSAMU TAKAHASHI, TAKURO SHIMBO
Anticancer Research Aug 2019, 39 (8) 4415-4421; DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.13613
- Why Do We Brush Twice A Day?
- WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T BRUSH YOUR TEETH? (2020)
- When You Don’t Brush Your Teeth. (2020)
- How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth? (2021)
- Chang, Y., Woo, H. G., Park, J., Lee, J. S., & Song, T.-J. (2020). Improved oral hygiene care is associated with decreased risk of occurrence for atrial fibrillation and heart failure: A nationwide population-based cohort study. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 27(17), 1835–1845. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487319886018
- Possible problems from not brushing. (2020)
- Samant A, Malik CP, Chabra SK, Devi PK. Gingivitis and periodontal disease in pregnancy. Journal of Periodontology. 1976 Jul;47(7):415-418. DOI: 10.1902/jop.1976.47.7.415. PMID: 1065739.