Why brushing teeth twice a day is not always best and other myths busted

We all think we know how to brush our teeth; morning and evening brushing, rinsing with water, and perhaps a mint mouthwash.

But according to dental experts, even the most diligent toothbrushers may be making a few mistakes that can ruin their good work.

From the University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, Dr. Praveen Sharma says half of adults in the UK will develop gum disease at some point, and the early sign of this is bleeding gums.

“If your gums are bleeding or swollen, that’s a sign you need to brush better,” she says.

As well as regular dentist visits, there are four things he and BBC’s What’s Up Docs podcast host Dr Xand and Dr Chris van Tulleken say many of us currently misunderstand; If we change these, we can improve the health of our teeth.

Brushing your teeth twice a day is one of the greatest dentistry commandments, and that’s it NHS recommends.

But Dr Sharma says the key is quality, not quantity.

“Yes, twice a day if you have time,” he says. “But it’s better to do it thoroughly once a day rather than twice quickly.”

If you brush your teeth once a day, he recommends doing so in the evening and making sure you floss as well.

Of course, no one likes flossing, but Dr. Using interdental brushes, especially rubber ones, can make this easier and less painful, says Sharma.

As for the method, each tooth has an outer, biting and inner surface, and all three need to be brushed.

Dr. Sharma recommends making small circular movements over each surface without applying too much pressure. He also says that special attention should be paid to the junction between the tooth and the gum because this is where gum disease can occur.

Dr Xand says it’s important to “focus on the feel of the bristles” and approach brushing mindfully, not scrolling on your phone at the same time.

Many people brush their teeth immediately after eating, but this may not provide any benefit to tooth enamel.

“Ideally, brush your teeth before breakfast,” says Dr Sharma. “You don’t want to do that after something acidic.

“If you brush your teeth, you need to leave some space between eating and brushing your teeth.”

This is because acids from food and drinks, especially fruit juice or coffee, can soften tooth enamel, and brushing too soon afterward can erode tooth enamel.

Dr Chris recommends rinsing your mouth with water after a meal to get rid of acid, and waiting at least 30 minutes if you’re brushing your teeth after breakfast.

If you’re spitting, rinsing, and gargling after every brushing, you may want to rethink this last step.

“Spit but don’t rinse,” advises Dr Sharma. Rinsing your mouth removes concentrated fluoride from remaining toothpaste.

This means spitting out the excess toothpaste and leaving the thin layer of fluoride behind to continue protecting your teeth.

With shelves full of whitening, charcoal, and enamel-boosting pastes, it’s easy to assume that more expensive options will give you a healthier smile.

But according to Dr Sharma, it doesn’t really matter which brand you choose as long as it contains one key ingredient.

“As long as your toothpaste contains fluoride, it doesn’t make much of a difference,” he says, adding that he tends to buy what’s cheaper or on offer.

Fluoride helps protect tooth enamel and prevents decay, which is what really matters.