How often and for how long is it necessary to brush your teeth

Brushing your teeth at home is an obligation to keep plaque and tartar at bay, and with it dental problems such as tooth decay or gum disease.

When to brush your teeth

It is recommendable to brush your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after each meal. With regard to the recommendable duration of brushing, ideally it should be between 2 to 3 minutes per session.

Although it’s important to pay attention to brushing time, it is even more important to ensure that all surfaces are clean. Hence, the adequate brushing technique is probably more important than the time employed.

Brushing must involve short movements forwards and backwards against teeth and gums, around the surface area of each tooth. It is necessary to use the tip of the brush to reach the upper and lower part behind each front tooth. Furthermore, it is important not to forget to use dental floss, since with it we manage to reach the areas that the brush cannot reach.

The importance of brushing teeth

If we do not brush our teeth for long enough, we may not be cleaning them properly. If we leave bacteria on our teeth after brushing, it may cause serious problems such as Gingivitis or Periodontitis.

Is too much brushing harmful? It is not really a question of time, rather of applying too much pressure, which may cause abrasion to the enamel and tissue of the gums, and this causes sensitive teeth.

Brushing children’s teeth

In children, on having milk teeth, sometimes sufficient importance is not given to brushing. In fact, milk teeth, which can also suffer tooth decay, are as important as permanent teeth and hence it is essential that parents show and maintain a daily brushing routine for younger children.

Teeth brushing by age

• In babies, parents are advised to clean their gums with a humid piece of gauze until the appearance of their first teeth.
• In children under three it is advised to brush their teeth gently, using a children’s toothbrush and a toothpaste recommended for their age. The toothpaste that we use on the brush must be no larger than a grain of rice.
• From aged three-six, children can use an amount of toothpaste equivalent to the size of a pea and brushing must continue to be carried out carefully.