Is It Ok to Brush Your Teeth 3 Times a Day?

Brush Your TeethThere are many theories that are thrown around when it comes to how many times you should brush your teeth every day. Some say you should brush your teeth after every meal, others recommend brushing twice a day, while some say brushing once a day is more than enough to get the job done.

With some many different chains of thought regarding how often you should brush your teeth, it easy to become confused about how often you should clean your chompers.

How often should you brush daily?

The truth of the matter is that brushing your teeth three times a day will likely end up damaging your teeth enamel. That's because most toothpaste contains abrasives like silica which helps to remove external stains on your teeth.

For best results, most dental experts recommend brushing only twice a day. Once before or after breakfast, and right before you go to bed. The most important brushing session of the day is right before you go to sleep. That's because you are more susceptible to tooth decay while you're asleep because your saliva production is reduced. Saliva naturally protects your teeth from decay, washing away any acids on them.

Brushing right before you go to bed will reduce the intensity of the way your breath smells in the morning. It will also make it easier for you to keep your breath fresh throughout the day.

Dentists often argue whether you should brush before or after breakfast. Technically speaking, brushing after breakfast is best since it removes food particles from your teeth before they can be converted into acids by the bacteria in your mouth. That doesn't just protect you from tooth decay, it also leaves you with fresher breath throughout the day.

However, many people like brushing their teeth first thing in the morning since it gives you a feeling of freshness. Brushing right when you wake up also gives the fluoride in your toothpaste time to remineralize your teeth while you take a shower and get ready for the day.

Why brushing is important

The main goal of brushing is to remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria. After you eat, bacteria in your mouth feast on the food particles that are left behind on your teeth. Once they're well fed, these bacteria excrete corrosive acids that damage the enamel of your teeth and lead to tooth decay.

By brushing your teeth twice a day, plaque build-up, food particles, and bacteria are removed from your mouth before damage is done to your enamel. If plaque is left on your teeth for a couple of days, it will eventually turn into tartar. Like plaque, tartar facilitates tooth decay, but it cannot be removed by brushing or flossing. Only a dentist can remove tartar from your teeth using specialized tools to scrape it off.

Contact North Tampa Dentistry to learn more about how to properly take care of your teeth.

You can request a dental appointment here: or call North Tampa Dentistry at (813) 430-0933 for an appointment in our Tampa dental office.

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