If I Brush My Teeth 3 Times A Day Will They Get Whiter?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “benefits of brushing teeth 3 times a day” and cover topics like what research says, how brushing 3 times a day benefits, toothbrushing techniques to avoid over brushing and points to consider for getting more benefits from brushing teeth 3 times a day.
If I Brush My Teeth 3 Times A Day Will They Get Whiter?
Brushing your teeth 3 times a day can make them whiter if the reason behind discoloration is temporary food stains.
Toothbrushing is not meant to make your teeth whiter but protect them from plaque accumulation and decay.
Tooth color is naturally decided by the color of your dentin. The outer enamel is transparent and thus the color of dentin gives your teeth naturally an off-white appearance.
Over-the-counter teeth whitening products may help to make them lighter but are not considered the best way.
The best way to achieve whiter teeth is in-office whitening treatment offered by your dentist.
Brush 3 Times A Day To Get a Whiter Look
When you do not brush your teeth for two or three 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 three times 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.
Why Are My Teeth Not White When I Brush Them Everyday?
Your teeth are not white even on brushing them everyday because the teeth are actually not perfectly white in their natural state.
Dentin layer is responsible for off-white appearance of your teeth as enamel, the outermost layer is transparent.
Moreover, toothbrushing is not for whitening your teeth. Toothbrushing is essential to remove plaque and food debris and maintain good oral and dental hygiene.
What Causes Yellowing Of Teeth?
There are multiple causes of yellowing of teeth, categorised under tooth discoloration.
Tooth discoloration is when the color of your teeth change from white to yellow to darker colors, either due to extrinsic or intrinsic causes or ageing.
Extrinsic causes of tooth discoloration are those caused by objects or factors outside your body. These may include foods and drinks, tobacco use and poor dental hygiene.
Intrinsic causes of tooth discoloration include factors that originate within your oral cavity or body. These may be associated with your genetics, certain types of medications, excessive fluoride intake or any type of dental injury.
Intrinsic tooth discoloration is discoloration within the dentin, has a pulpal or systemic origin and is much more permanent when compared to extrinsic teeth discoloration.
Some of the potential causes of tooth discolouration or yellowing of teeth are:
Coffee, Tea And Wine
Coffee, Tea and Wine are known to cause teeth stains and yellowing of teeth.
Tannins, a type of organic substance found in coffee, tea and wine, build up on the tooth enamel and results in yellowing of teeth.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Not brushing your teeth daily after every meal or at least 2 times for two minutes each as recommended by ADA, may lead to plaque accumulation and tartar formation.
Plaque, calculus or tartar causes yellowing of teeth and also increases the risk of periodontal diseases.
Chromogenic bacteria have also been reported to cause stains on your teeth commonly at the gingival margin of the tooth.
Bad Habits: Tobacco Use
Tobacco in any form causes discoloration of teeth. Discoloration caused by tobacco is not yellow but more dark brown or black.
Medications
Medications like Chlorhexidine, tetracycline and phenolic mouth rinses cause yellow discoloration of teeth.
Genetic And Metabolic Disorders
Metabolic disorders like hyperbilirubinemia cause yellowing of teeth.
Genetic disorders like amelogenesis imperfecta, dentin dysplasia and epidermolysis bullosa also result in yellowing of teeth.
Dental Injury
Injury in early childhood may disturb the tooth germ and can be one of the causes of tooth discoloration and yellowing of teeth.
Trauma in adulthood may also lead to discoloration of teeth.
Dental Materials
Dental materials such as composite and GIC lead to yellowish discoloration of the teeth.
Ageing
As you grow older, the outer layer of teeth called enamel wears and the inner dentin is exposed, revealing an off-white appearance.
Excessive Fluoride
Fluoride in adequate amounts is crucial for healthy and strong teeth.
However, excessive fluoride from environmental sources such as high fluoride content in the local water supply or from excessive use of fluoride containing toothpaste and mouthrinses can cause teeth discoloration.
Can Yellow Teeth Become White?
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
Daily brushing your teeth at least 2 to 3 times can help whiten your teeth by reducing or removing the plaque accumulation.
Visiting your dentist every 6 months will also help you to keep check of all your oral problems and conditions that can lead to yellowing of your teeth.
Take Professional Help
Visit your dentist or dental hygienist and get their help in getting brighter, whiter teeth.
Ultrasonic scaling and cleaning, rotary polishing with an abrasive prophylactic paste, or air-jet polishing with an abrasive powder can help remove some of the extrinsic stains.
Enamel microabrasion along with bleaching can help in removal of superficial intrinsic tooth discoloration that is caused by fluorosis and orthodontic brackets.
Home Bleaching
At-home bleaching is quite popularly known to reduce the yellow stain and help you get whiter teeth.
Whitening Strips And Whitening Toothpastes
Whitening strips containing hydrogen peroxide offer an at-home alternative to whiten the stained teeth.
Whitening toothpastes, containing 1% or less peroxide, are minimally effective.
However, darker stains can be successfully removed using a combination of in-office and at-home procedures.
No Tobacco And Less Of Coffee or Tea Consumption
No tobacco and less coffee or tea consumption will help reduce the stain on teeth produced by them.
Correct Way To Brush Your Teeth To Get Maximum Benefit And Whiter Teeth
Here is how you can brush your teeth in 2 mins with correct technique, avoid over-brushing and abrasion and get whiter, stain free teeth:
- 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.
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the question, “If I brush my teeth 3 times a day will they get whiter”. We understood that brushing three times daily is more effective in getting whiter and stain free teeth. The article outlined the various causes associated with tooth discoloration, ways to prevent teeth from becoming yellow and some in-office and at-home whitening techniques.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): If I Brush My Teeth 3 Times A Day Will They Get Whiter
How many times should I brush my teeth a day to make them white?
The American Dental Association recommends brushing two times for two minutes each with a fluoride toothpaste to get decay free, whiter teeth.
However, several studies suggest brushing frequency to be three times or after every meal for 30 secs to prevent any plaque accumulation and food or drink stain on your teeth.
Should I Brush My Teeth Longer than 2 minutes To Make Them Whiter?
No. You should not brush your teeth for more than 2 minutes each time in the morning or night to get whiter teeth.
Brushing more will only wear away your enamel and expose the inner dentin resulting in pain, sensitivity , increased chances of tooth decay and darker teeth.
To get whiter teeth, brush 2-3 times following the correct technique. If you are brushing after every meal, do not brush for more than 30 seconds.
Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?
There are many reasons for your teeth turning yellow. It may be due to thinning of enamel and dentin due to regular and continuous aggressive brushing, or smoking or tobacco chewing, or staining from tea and coffee, or excess use of fluoride.
Why Are My Teeth Not White When I Brush Them Everyday?
Your teeth are not white even on brushing them everyday because the teeth are actually not perfectly white in their natural state.
Dentin layer is responsible for off-white appearance of your teeth as enamel, the outermost layer is transparent.
Moreover, toothbrushing is not for whitening your teeth. Toothbrushing is essential to remove plaque and food debris and maintain good oral and dental hygiene.
Is brushing your teeth 3 times a day too much?
No. Brushing three times a day may seem too much but studies have reported it to be associated with good oral health and overall health of the heart.
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.
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
Benefits of brushing teeth 3 times a day
References:
- Manuel, S. T., P. Abhishek, and M. Kundabala. “Etiology of tooth discoloration-a review.” Etiology of tooth discoloration-a review 18.2 (2010): 56-63.
- Tooth Discoloration. (2020)
- Tooth Discoloration
- Whitening Yellow Teeth. Colgate. (2020)
- Tooth Discoloration Treatment & Management. (2020)