The AmericanDental Association recommends that most individuals brush their teeth at least twice a day, for a full two minutes each time. For others, the recommendation may include after meals as well. For those with health conditions that may contribute to poor oral health or those with dental work such as braces, bushing more frequently may be recommended to control plaque bacteria better.
When you brush twice daily, you can help prevent plaque from accumulating, which can contribute to tooth decay (also known as cavities) and prevent gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) from occurring or progressing further.
Every time you brush, you remove plaque and food particles that can often leave your teeth stained and discolored. By keeping up with this daily, you can reduce the amount of stain buildup.
When you brush your teeth, you reduce the levels of harmful bacteria in the mouth, which can often contribute to bad breath.
There are a few circumstances where you may want to wait to brush your teeth. When it comes to acidic saliva, it's best to rinse our mouth and wait at least 30minutes before brushing to ensure acid levels have stabilized.
You want to refrain from brushing as soon as you’re done eating as the acid level of your saliva needs time to balance itself out before you start brushing.
When we are sick, we often feel the need to brush right after we vomit; however, this, too, can cause you to brush acidic saliva around that can harm the teeth.