I almost always read in the news/press that dentists recommend to brush teeth two times a day for 2-3 minutes.
This drives me crazy, because it does not make sense; The point for dental health is to systematical clean every surface of your teeth twice a day (and use inter-dental brushes/floss once a day). For me, brushing my teeth takes around 6 minutes, if I hurry up. For someone faster it might be possible in 1 minute.
So, why do dentists always give the 2-3 minutes recommendation?
i find it inconvenient to do that every day, so i brush once a month for 2 hours.
With this simple trick you can save time EVERY DAY
Worthful quality lifehack right there.
It’s the little things that makes all the difference.
Because it should take you about 2 minutes to brush your teeth.
If you’re actually brushing for 6 minutes straight, you’re overdoing it and damaging your enamel and gums.
Brush gently, floss thoroughly.
Adding to this, also make sure to floss gently.
My hygienist told me I was flossing too hard lol.
One reason why I enjoy my electric toothbrush, as it vibrates every 30 seconds to tell you to switch to the next quadrant, up to 2 minutes. No guesswork, and it brushes better than I ever could using a regular toothbrush.
Seriously, I have no idea how one could brush teeth in 2 minutes. I brush gently, use the simple swipe away from the gum technique and just work systematic chewing surfaces, inner surfaces, outer surfaces. Each part gets 2-3 swipes. I had a professional dental cleaner teach this technique to me, and she also told me that she couldn’t finish within 3 minutes. (Do not misunderstand me; I would happily get away with 2 minutes.) BTW flossing is another interesting topic, AFAIK there is no study which can show that flossing helps your teeth/gum. (I floss daily, but I just cannot understand why there is no study which supports this practice.)
I only floss when I can’t get something out from my teeth, but I hate the feeling of things in my teeth so I often take a drink of water and aggressively rinse and like force the water through my teeth. Never had any dental issues, so 🤷
I got a waterpick six months ago and at my most recent dental cleaning they complimented me on how fantastic my teeth looked. Honestly, it feels incredibly refreshing to use. I use it with 50% water, 50% mouthwash.
And stuff like meat getting stuck leads to pain in the gums and a nasty odour which is indeed rotting meat. Definitely getting that out!
Wait, so the summary states clearly, that a.) flossing is effective b.) mouth rinsing is more effective?!? It seems to good to be true, why does not every producer of mouth rinsing make advertisement with this? I also always ask my dentists about tips for dental hygiene, and none every recommend mouth rinsing. (Germany)
I think it’s an average estimate, not a hard rule.
The exact time doesn’t matter, but it’s an approximate reference for how long you could aim for
- some people don’t brush enough
- some people brush too much (harms enamel and damages gums)
In a sense, I guess op is right though — I recently read that ~70% of people in a study were brushing ineffectively, no matter how long they were told to brush. Their brushing only improved after being told to make sure to brush every every “sector” of their teeth.
My electric toothbrush does 30 seconds per quadrant, 2 minutes total. I’m 38 have zero cavities and my teeth are fine. I only brush once a day.
There’s other factors than just brushing your teeth but brushing is probably the easiest factor that most people can reasonably take control of.
Genetics, obviously you can’t do much about. But you can avoid sweets and decide not to get pregnant (hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause mouths to get more acidic and make plaque harder to remove, and can also soften the gums and bones that hold teeth in, or even weaken the teeth directly). Also, if you want nice teeth, it’s especially important to abstain from smoking crystal meth. And that’s even more important during pregnancy.
But telling everybody “brush twice a day for two minutes” is a small ask with huge returns.
Idk. I’ve been able to maintain a pretty consistent balance of crystal and healthy teeth. Every one of them that’ve fallen out have been nice, white, and cavity free.
But what’s wrong with crystal meth? It always helps me to focus when I’m trying to brush my teeth.
Sonicare or oral b?
I wish I had bought my sonicare much earlier than I did. Seems like the best way to keep your teeth healthy outside the dentist’s office.
Seems expensive until you have a dental bill that is much more expensive. I highly recommend getting a sonicare.
My electric toothbrush works in four 30-second increments. Each 30 seconds is plenty of time for me to cover a quadrant. I slowly go over the outside, inside, top/bottom, gums in each quadrant. Maybe if I was meticulously brushing each tooth one by one, I could see the issue, but that’s not necessary, is it?
- Omega_Haxors ( @Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml ) 7•7 months ago
Buy high fluorine toothpaste and put a TINY (I mean, miniscule amount) on your toothbrush. There should be only a few speckles of the stuff on there. Then brush just enough to ensure each and every nook and cranny is covered in the stuff, rinse and spit. If the next time you go to brush you still taste the toothpaste, you put on too much and therefore don’t need to reapply it. Just put on a little less next time.
Never had a cavity since I started doing that, and I’m not even a 1/16th through the tube. Best money I ever spent.
EDIT: A few other dental tricks that will help dramatically:
- You don’t need to brush twice a day, once is plenty and preferably before bed
- Don’t brush right after eating/drinking especially if it was acidic, that tears your enamel apart
- Use only a pea-sized blob of toothpaste, if you use it like they show you in the commercials, you’re an idiot
- The primary goal of brushing is to apply fluoride, the secondary goal is to get shit out of your gums
- Tooth whitening is a scam designed to poke at your insecurities. If you buy into it, you’re an idiot
- Dr. Fortnite says floss every night. Use a water flosser or pay attention to how your dentist flosses as their technique is immaculate
- All floss is blood-flavored, do not try to push back against this universal truth for it is absolute
- There is no sensation more elating than your dentist actually being impressed at your dental health
- Some toothpastes and flosses cause cancer, research which ones and stay away from them
- A Colgate tee shirt looks almost exactly like a supreme one and costs a fraction of the price
Okay you already had my attention but I’m absolutely running with #10
I’m also like you with my timing but most people I know say I take ages with my teeth. Apparently most people are done with their brushing in less than one minute. Therefore, dentists recommend spending at least two or three. I don’t think you need to brush for less time than what you already are.
Thanks, good to hear, I am not the only one. :-)
Have you asked your dentist?
Are you aware some of us can’t afford that?
Are you aware that the question was not directed at you?
And? It’s a public discussion.
Since OP has firm views about what dentists says, I’m going to assume that they visit the dentist on occasion.
I’m not. I read the lit and do what I can.
Ah yeah this hits a nerve for me: the idea that some individuals are the arbiters of medical science and knowledge. Answers to questions like “why should I brush my teeth” is something to be found in a textbook, hopefully at a public library, not to be dispensed out by some individual with fat fees.
I still need the dental pro. I just can’t access one, currently.
This, so much!
It really makes me angry, that there is no free dental hygiene training for children/teenagers.
I life in a comparatively rich society (Germany), but our retarded health care system pumps billions every year in preventable diseases (like most dental problems) and exactly zero in prophylaxes.
Fair and good question. I literally ask my dentist on every single visit the following points
- is my dental hygiene ok?
- do I damage my gums with my brushing?
- what can I improve in my dental hygiene?
The dentist always tells me it is okay and I cannot do more, than I am doing.
You are harming your teeth if you brush them that much, that’s why. Overbrushing is just as bad as brushing too little.
Surely part of your 6 minutes is flossing and mouthwash though.
I systematically clean each surface but my electric toothbrush has an automatic timer that buzzes at the 2 min mark and its surprising how close it is. I normally only have one or two teeth to go.
i just go over my teeth twice with a manual brush.
Back in the day, it was recommended after every meal!