You know that you should brush your teeth every day, but do you know when the best time to brush is? Or how often you should brush? Similarly, do you ever wonder if you should brush or floss first? Today, our team is happy to address questions like these.
Most dentists recommend that you brush twice a day for two minutes at a time. When you brush isn’t really important, though usually sometime after you wake up and before you go to bed. You see, plaque usually takes 24 hours to harden, and after it’s hardened, you’ll have to visit a dentist to remove it. This means that brushing twice a day will give you two opportunities to remove harmful plaque before it can cause a problem.
Similarly, it doesn’t really matter if you brush or eat first. However, some people don’t like to brush before they eat because toothpaste can alter with the flavor of their food.Others think the best thing they can do for their smile is brush right after they eat. While removing plaque is a good thing, the acids from food will weaken the outer layer of your teeth. Fortunately, your teeth will remineralize, or harden, on their own after about thirty minutes. However, if you brush before they are remineralized, you could damage your smile.
Finally, some people disagree over whether brushing or flossing should come first. Some claim that brushing first is better because floss can spread fluoride from your toothpaste into hard-to-reach areas. Others argue that flossing first is better because it will dislodge plaque and let you clean your teeth more thoroughly.Really, the issue is simply a matter of preference.
If you would like to earn more, or are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Scott Healey, please feel free to contact us soon. We’re excited to hear from you at 801.653.0099.
