I almost always read in the news/press that dentists recommend to brush teeth two times a day for 2-3 minutes.

This drives me crazy, because it does not make sense; The point for dental health is to systematical clean every surface of your teeth twice a day (and use inter-dental brushes/floss once a day). For me, brushing my teeth takes around 6 minutes, if I hurry up. For someone faster it might be possible in 1 minute.

So, why do dentists always give the 2-3 minutes recommendation?

  • 420stalin69 [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    I think it’s a game of diminishing returns.

    Let’s say 6 minutes gives you perfect 100% cleaning.

    Well 30 seconds probably already gets you 50% or more of the total benefit just by getting fluoride on your teeth and rinsing your mouth a bit so getting people to 3 minutes is probably approaching perfection anyway and if you start asking people to do 6 minutes then they’ll say fuck it I won’t bother at all so settle for the 80% win.

    I assume.

  • Muad'Dibber@lemmygrad.ml
    0·
    2 years ago

    What’s really strange to me, is that for all the expertise around dentistry, AFAIK there has never been an actual evidence-based study for how long and how often you should brush and floss.

    Its literally the most important piece of dental advice they could study, and no research has been done. How much plaque builds up on average when only brushing once per week, once per month? It makes me question the whole discipline and wonder if they don’t just say “brush 10 times a day” in order to sell more dental products.

    Maybe they’d discover that actually you only need to brush twice a week, and floss twice a week. Maybe it ends up being flossing every day, and brushing once a month… who knows.

    • inetknght@lemmy.ml
      0·
      2 years ago

      AFAIK there has never been an actual evidence-based study for how long and how often you should brush and floss.

      The National Institute of Health has a ton of public-paid studies. Did you even bother to search it before making your astounding claim? https://www.nih.gov

      Just one search for nih brush time shows several studies. Let me just link the top two…

      https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19723429/ -> “This study was undertaken to measure plaque removal during untutored brushing over timed periods between 30 and 180 seconds with”

      https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16355646/ -> “This review shows that there is consensus in the literature that (meticulous) tooth brushing once per day is sufficient to maintain oral health and to prevent caries and periodontal diseases. Tooth brushing is also regarded as an important vehicle for application of anti-caries agents, such as fluorides. However, most patients are not able to achieve sufficient plaque removal by performing oral hygiene measures at home. Therefore, tooth brushing twice daily is recommended by most of the dentists in order to improve plaque control.”

      OP poses one question with two parts. The first study answers the time (2-3 minutes) part. The second link answers the other part (twice daily).

  • Otter@lemmy.caEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    I think it’s an average estimate, not a hard rule.

    The exact time doesn’t matter, but it’s an approximate reference for how long you could aim for

    • some people don’t brush enough
    • some people brush too much (harms enamel and damages gums)
    • federalreverse-old@feddit.de
      0·
      2 years ago

      In a sense, I guess op is right though — I recently read that ~70% of people in a study were brushing ineffectively, no matter how long they were told to brush. Their brushing only improved after being told to make sure to brush every every “sector” of their teeth.

  • OtisRamflow@lemm.ee
    0·
    2 years ago

    My electric toothbrush does 30 seconds per quadrant, 2 minutes total. I’m 38 have zero cavities and my teeth are fine. I only brush once a day.

    • jasondj@ttrpg.network
      0·
      2 years ago

      There’s other factors than just brushing your teeth but brushing is probably the easiest factor that most people can reasonably take control of.

      Genetics, obviously you can’t do much about. But you can avoid sweets and decide not to get pregnant (hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause mouths to get more acidic and make plaque harder to remove, and can also soften the gums and bones that hold teeth in, or even weaken the teeth directly). Also, if you want nice teeth, it’s especially important to abstain from smoking crystal meth. And that’s even more important during pregnancy.

      But telling everybody “brush twice a day for two minutes” is a small ask with huge returns.

      • DriftingDeep@lemm.ee
        0·
        2 years ago

        Idk. I’ve been able to maintain a pretty consistent balance of crystal and healthy teeth. Every one of them that’ve fallen out have been nice, white, and cavity free.

  • snowe@programming.dev
    0·
    2 years ago

    You are harming your teeth if you brush them that much, that’s why. Overbrushing is just as bad as brushing too little.

  • rgb3x3@beehaw.org
    0·
    2 years ago

    Because it should take you about 2 minutes to brush your teeth.

    If you’re actually brushing for 6 minutes straight, you’re overdoing it and damaging your enamel and gums.

    Brush gently, floss thoroughly.

    • wolf@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Seriously, I have no idea how one could brush teeth in 2 minutes. I brush gently, use the simple swipe away from the gum technique and just work systematic chewing surfaces, inner surfaces, outer surfaces. Each part gets 2-3 swipes. I had a professional dental cleaner teach this technique to me, and she also told me that she couldn’t finish within 3 minutes. (Do not misunderstand me; I would happily get away with 2 minutes.) BTW flossing is another interesting topic, AFAIK there is no study which can show that flossing helps your teeth/gum. (I floss daily, but I just cannot understand why there is no study which supports this practice.)

    • green_witch@beehaw.orgEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      Adding to this, also make sure to floss gently.

      My hygienist told me I was flossing too hard lol.

      • exscape@kbin.social
        0·
        2 years ago

        No, it’s not. I have never brushed my teeth too hard and have always used very soft toothbrushes, but I used to brush for 6-7 minutes, and my gums have suffered for it. Way too much of my teeth are now exposed, which is both ugly and causes sensitivity.
        In the long run, if one keeps this up, teeth will start falling out.

        Don’t overbrush.

    • saigot@lemmy.ca
      0·
      2 years ago

      In case you are unaware current advice is to avoid brushing for a while after an acidic food or drink

      • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
        0·
        2 years ago

        Since OP has firm views about what dentists says, I’m going to assume that they visit the dentist on occasion.

          • otl@lemmy.srcbeat.comEnglish
            0·
            2 years ago

            Ah yeah this hits a nerve for me: the idea that some individuals are the arbiters of medical science and knowledge. Answers to questions like “why should I brush my teeth” is something to be found in a textbook, hopefully at a public library, not to be dispensed out by some individual with fat fees.

  • Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works
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    2 years ago

    So I’ve had something like 25-30 cavities filled in my life. I haven’t had a single cavity in 10 years, though. I brush only once a day, and floss. The trick is flouride rinse afterwards. That’s the secret.

  • Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml
    0·
    2 years ago

    Buy high fluorine toothpaste and put a TINY (I mean, miniscule amount) on your toothbrush. There should be only a few speckles of the stuff on there. Then brush just enough to ensure each and every nook and cranny is covered in the stuff, rinse and spit. If the next time you go to brush you still taste the toothpaste, you put on too much and therefore don’t need to reapply it. Just put on a little less next time.

    Never had a cavity since I started doing that, and I’m not even a 1/16th through the tube. Best money I ever spent.

    EDIT: A few other dental tricks that will help dramatically:
    1. You don’t need to brush twice a day, once is plenty and preferably before bed
    2. Don’t brush right after eating/drinking especially if it was acidic, that tears your enamel apart
    3. Use only a pea-sized blob of toothpaste, if you use it like they show you in the commercials, you’re an idiot
    4. The primary goal of brushing is to apply fluoride, the secondary goal is to get shit out of your gums
    5. Tooth whitening is a scam designed to poke at your insecurities. If you buy into it, you’re an idiot
    6. Dr. Fortnite says floss every night. Use a water flosser or pay attention to how your dentist flosses as their technique is immaculate
    7. All floss is blood-flavored, do not try to push back against this universal truth for it is absolute
    8. There is no sensation more elating than your dentist actually being impressed at your dental health
    9. Some toothpastes and flosses cause cancer, research which ones and stay away from them
    10. A Colgate tee shirt looks almost exactly like a supreme one and costs a fraction of the price
  • Mothra@mander.xyz
    0·
    2 years ago

    I’m also like you with my timing but most people I know say I take ages with my teeth. Apparently most people are done with their brushing in less than one minute. Therefore, dentists recommend spending at least two or three. I don’t think you need to brush for less time than what you already are.