It's the age old question thrown at dentists: How long should I brush my teeth for? Although the NHS recommends that we should all brush our teeth twice a day for two minutes, and most dentists agree with that (or suggest three minutes instead) studies show that the majority of people only brush for 30-45 seconds.
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Failure to brush regularly and properly can lead to some serious issues like periodontitis and gingivitis and heavy plaque in the mouth can lead to plaque build up in the arteries as well. A 2012 systematic review of 59 papers published in International Journal of Dental Hygiene found that, on average, people who brushed for one minute removed about 27 percent of plaque, but when people brushed for two minutes, they removed around 41 percent of the plaque on their teeth - almost twice as much!
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But why do most people struggle to brush for just four minutes a day? Well...in short, because it's boring. ⠀⠀
There are activities that can help prompt patients into committing to looking after their oral health, and the app Brush DJ is one, which plays two minutes of your music so you brush your teeth for the right amount of time. ⠀⠀
But what do we think? Do any dental professionals here have any other tips to contribute? Or are we simply a nation destined for lazy brushing.
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