Dr. Rachel Squier, Treasure Coast Dental
Have Dental Restorations? If So, You’re Going To Want To Read This!
With Age Comes a Mouthful of Trouble
Tooth Enamel Erosion
Research Supports Recommendation To Brush Teeth For Two Minutes, Twice A Day.
Noting the American Dental Associationrecommends brushing teeth for two minutes, twice a day, SELF Magazine (3/13, Lanquist) states that “experts didn’t just pluck this number from thin air – science shows it really can boost your oral health.” The article notes “a 2016 systematic review of 33 articles published in Journal of Dental Research found that brushing fewer than two times a day was consistently associated with more tooth decay,” and ADA spokesperson Dr. Sally Cram “says some research gets even more specific, showing that brushing your teeth for two minutes leads to a greater reduction in plaque than brushing for one minute does.” The article points to “a 2012 systematic review of 59 papers published in International Journal of Dental Hygiene,” which “found that, on average, people who brushed for one minute removed about 27 percent of plaque,” whereas “when people brushed for two minutes, they removed around 41 percent of the plaque on their teeth.” Cleaning between teeth daily and visiting the dentist regularly is also important. “Most dental problems – like tooth decay, gum disease, and other common problems – are really preventable,” Dr. Cram says.
The Oral Health Topics on ADA.org and MouthHealthy.org provide additional information on toothbrushing methods and toothbrush care for dental professionals and for patients.
