The Say Brushing Teeth Twice A Day Is Important, but When?

We all know that we’re meant to brush our teeth twice per day. One common question that people have regarding brushing, however, is when the best time throughout the day is to get in your two sessions.

Brush Before Bed

Dentists will tell you that the most important time to brush is just before heading to bed. This is because your saliva production decreases at night, and saliva acts as your mouth’s natural defence against bacteria. Saliva has anti-bacterial properties, washes away food remnants, and neutralises the acid level in your mouth, all of which help to protect teeth and keep them pearly white.

Brush Freely in the Morning

Another common question about brushing time is whether to brush teeth before or after breakfast in the morning. If you’re a die-hard before breakfast brusher, you can rest easy knowing that dentists generally agree that the timing of your brushing in the morning doesn’t matter very much about tooth decay.

Know Why You Brush

This may come as a surprise to many, as there is a wide misconception about the purpose of teeth brushing in the first place. Many people assume that the point of brushing is the clean food remnants off of the teeth, when in fact, the primary purpose is to clean plaque off the teeth.

Also Read This: 8 Habits That May Be Damaging Your Teeth

Plaque is a soft, sticky layer of bacteria that builds up on your teeth. Plaque feeds off of the sugars in our diet and produces acid that eats away at the enamel of your teeth causing tooth decay and gum disease if it is not removed through regular teeth brushing and flossing.

Just Brush Twice

It takes about 24 hours for the plaque to build up and mature in your mouth. After 24 hours, the plaque then hardens and turns to tartar, a harder, rougher, more yellow substance. Tartar will also continue to grow more plaque if you continue to skip brushing and will eventually cause cavities.

Tartar can also cause gum disease, which leads to discomfort, inflammation, and bleeding in the gums. Depending on how long you have neglected to care for your teeth, gum disease ranges from mild to severe. In severe cases, gum disease can cause gum deterioration, bone loss, and loss of teeth.

Unlike plaque, tartar can only truly be removed by visiting the dentist. That’s why it’s so important to brush twice a day—you destroy the growth of bacteria that have developed since you last brushed before it has the chance to harden into tartar, which can cause long-term damage to your teeth.

The Bottom Line

Every time you go to bed or run out of the house in the morning without brushing your teeth, you are allowing bacteria to build up in your mouth that can lead to huge dental issues if left unchecked. Just a quick two-minute brush twice per day can avoid these issues and keep your teeth clean and healthy.