I almost always read in the news/press that dentists recommend to brush teeth two times a day for 2-3 minutes.

This drives me crazy, because it does not make sense; The point for dental health is to systematical clean every surface of your teeth twice a day (and use inter-dental brushes/floss once a day). For me, brushing my teeth takes around 6 minutes, if I hurry up. For someone faster it might be possible in 1 minute.

So, why do dentists always give the 2-3 minutes recommendation?

  • grabyourmotherskeys@lemmy.world
    131·
    11 months ago

    When I was growing up they used to say “brush after every meal” and then it became three times per day, now it’s “please just brush twice at some point”.

    • wolf@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      7·
      11 months ago

      I also got the ‘brush after every contact with sugar’ thingy.

      The common agreement nowadays seems to be twice a day and the points are very clear: before you go to bed and soon after getting up in the morning, to bring some fluid to the nasty bacteria, remove their food and plaque from your teeth.

    • federalreverse-old@feddit.de
      2·
      11 months ago

      You’re right. When I grew up, I was told to brush three times as well, more I brush twice only. Not sure when or why that recommendation changed.