The recommendation to brush teeth for two minutes has been recommended since the 1970s. Most people are familiar with the advice that they should brush their teeth twice a day and for at least two minutes. However, there is some evidence that two minutes of toothbrushing may be inadequate.
According to research, it is better to remove as many tartars as possible. The most efficient results are obtained in three to four minutes. or discomfort began to recommend that we brush our teeth for two minutes and then
use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Consensus among dentists today is mostly based on studies published since the 1990s that evaluate brushing times,
methods, and type of toothbrush. These studies showed that two minutes of brushing resulted in good plaque reduction, though not perfect. However, while brushing longer than two minutes has been shown to eliminate more plaques, there is still a lack of research examining whether brushing longer than two minutes is linked to better long-term oral health compared to two minutes.
Failure to brush our teeth properly or long enough can lead to higher levels of plaque, which can stimulate our body’s immune response and eventually cause inflammation.
Inflammation is usually not painful, but often causes bleeding in the gums and sometimes bad breath when brushing. Biofilms can also cause tooth decay. The goal of brushing our teeth is to reduce the maximum
possible plaque formation in each tooth. Available evidence suggests that brushing up to four minutes more every time you brush causes cleaner teeth.
Longer brushing time means we can clean teeth more effectively and reach hard-to-reach places. Nevertheless, it is also important not to brush too often (like more than twice a day) and avoid brushing hard or using hard bristle brushes and abrasive toothpastes, as this can also harm teeth and gums.
There are many different brushing methods that you can use to brush your teeth in the most efficient way. One of the most recommended is the modified “Bass” technique, which aims to clean the bottom of the gum line and the area where the gum first forms and is most likely to cause inflammation.
Cleaning between teeth, which most of us know as flossing, is also recommended in addition to brushing teeth. Studies have proven that both dental caries and gingivitis gingivitis can be reduced with dental floss. Although we are used to the suggestion that we brush our teeth twice a day
for two minutes at a time, it is also important to focus on using the appropriate method to make sure that we brush properly. Brushing longer than two minutes can also help us remove more plaque from our teeth, which will most likely lead to better dental health.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sertaç AKSAKALLI
