You’re heading to the dentist for your cleaning and checkup, and you’re crossing your fingers that you don’t’ have any cavities this time! Either way, you figure that you’ll hear the same thing as always: Brush at least twice a day for healthy teeth and gums. But isn’t one good brushing a day enough to keep things clean and prevent cavities? Where did the magical number of two come from? Was it just made up, or is there something more behind it? A dentist in Greenfield explains the reasoning behind this recommendation and also gives you some tips and tricks to make it a little easier!
How Will Brushing Twice a Day Help You?
You may not know it, but it’s been estimated that there are 20 billion bacteria in your mouth that double every five hours. In a 24-hour period, that’s around 100 billion bacteria – yikes!
Some of those species of bacteria cause cavities, while other strains cause gum disease. Thankfully, brushing will remove many of these little critters before they can cause problems.
But while it may seem adequate to brush really well just once a day, unfortunately it just can’t get the job done.
Not only will brushing twice a day reduce the amount of tartar you get, which will make your cleanings at a “dentist near me” easier and faster, you’ll also keep your gums healthier.
Most people don’t think about their gum tissue until there’s a problem, but it has the very important job of supporting and protecting your teeth. In severe cases of periodontal (gum) disease, teeth can become loose and fall out, even if those teeth have never had a cavity!
In general, the cleaner you keep things at home, the less dental work you’ll need over the long-term.
How Can You Make Twice Each Day a Habit?
As anyone will tell you, establishing healthy habits is easier said than done! Thankfully there are some easy ways to incorporate brushing twice each day into your life.
First, although it’s ideal to brush first thing in the morning and right before bed, for some people those are the challenging times of the day.
Mornings can be a rushed affair as everyone in the household is trying to make a mad dash for the door. If you struggle in the morning, keep a toothbrush at work and brush right after lunch each day.
If you find yourself too exhausted right before bed, try to brush right after dinner, when you have more energy.
Make it your goal to accomplish just 30 days of consistent brushing. By the end of the month, you might just find that the habit has stuck. At the very least, you’ll start to miss that slick, smooth, minty-fresh feeling you get from brushing more often.
And of course, flossing is important too – but that’s a conversation for another time!
About the Author
Dr. William Carini and Dr. David Blanchard are committed to providing the Greenfield community with top-notch dental care. They both understand the importance of prevention and always take the time to teach their patients how to take great care of their oral health at home in between visits. They can be contacted for questions via their website, or at (414) 209-7463.