When & How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?
From a young age, we’re taught how to brush our teeth and how often we should do it.Dental health professionals recommend brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed.
By brushing your teeth, you’re removing any remaining food particles and plaque, which is a sticky white film that forms on your teeth and harbours bacteria. It’s important to remove that plaque on your teeth, as the bacteria in the plaque produces acid that attacks tooth enamel.
Enamel acts as a protective barrier for your teeth from daily activities, such as chewing, biting, and grinding, and from harmful bacteria.
If the plaque is left on the teeth for a long time, it can begin to harden into tartar, which is much more difficult to remove. Not to mention, tartar buildup on the gums may cause inflammation and gum disease.
You should make it a habit to brush your teeth for two minutes, which will ensure all the plaque is removed. Be sure to brush the tongue-side of your teeth and the back teeth, which are often forgotten.
The gum line and tongue should also be brushed, using less force as you would on your teeth. When brushing your gums, place the brush at a 45-degree angle, which allows you to clean the gum line properly.