Why Is Brushing Twice a Day So Important?

February 13, 2024

Brushing your teeth twice a day is essential for maintaining good oral health. It helps remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria that can lead to tooth decay, bad breath, tooth discoloration, and gum disease.

By brushing your teeth every day, you’re actively preventing the buildup of harmful substances that can erode your tooth enamel and affect your overall oral health. Here’s why brushing twice a day is so important for your smile.

Protect Your Tooth Enamel

Plaque naturally accumulates on your teeth over time. This happens throughout the day as we eat and drink and our oral bacteria helps begin the process of breaking down food in our mouths. You may notice that in the hours after brushing, your teeth feel less smooth and more “fuzzy”—this is plaque accumulating on your teeth [1].

When not regularly removed through brushing and flossing, plaque can harden into a substance called tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist. Tartar and plaque can cause tooth enamel damage, including discoloration and tooth sensitivity, as well as cavities to form. It can also contribute to gum disease.

Keep Your Gums Healthy

Brushing your teeth twice a day helps keep gum tissue healthy. Gum disease is a common issue that happens when plaque accumulates around the gumline, causing inflammation and infection. People with gum disease can experience bleeding gums, receding gum lines, chronic bad breath, and even tooth loss if the condition is left untreated [2].

By brushing your teeth twice daily, you can reduce harmful bacteria and plaque around the gumline and lower the risk of gum disease, thus preserving the health and integrity of your gums. Remember, your gums support your teeth, so don’t overlook the gumline when brushing your pearly whites!

Prevent Bad Breath

Regular brushing plays a crucial role in preventing bad breath. Bacteria that accumulate in the mouth and on the tongue can lead to halitosis, the technical term for bad breath [3]. In addition, brushing your teeth helps prevent gum disease, which can cause chronic bad breath.

By brushing your teeth twice daily, you help reduce bacteria in your mouth that can cause your breath to smell, decreasing the likelihood of bad breath and ensuring fresh breath throughout the day. Just don’t forget to brush your tongue!

Keep Your Body Healthy

The benefits of brushing your teeth extend beyond oral health. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to various systemic health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. Some research even links poor oral health to cognitive disorders such as dementia [4].

By brushing your teeth twice a day, you’re taking an important step in protecting your overall well-being, as oral health is closely connected to general health and disease prevention.

Brush for Two Minutes, Two Times a Day

Brushing for two minutes twice a day is integral to keeping your smile healthy. With all the benefits of brushing, it’s essential not to skip this important oral care habit. Your dentist can help you improve your brushing technique during your regular checkups to ensure a lifetime of healthy smiling!