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How many times a day should I brush my teeth?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

How many times a day should I brush my teeth? I recently bought an electronic toothbrush with five modes. I am not new to electronic toothbrushes. I brush my teeth in sensitive mode and I used to wash them three times a day after having food. Sometimes, especially after I had my teeth cleaned professionally, I experienced sensitivity. I do not want to get my enamel wear off. Is it correct to wash my teeth three times a day? Or should I do it only two times a day? Should I use mouthwash at night? I am using a product without alcohol. I read that it might upset the mouth's natural bacterial environment, although it helps preserve teeth. Is that correct?

Kindly help.

Answered by Dr. Prerna Jain

Education:

MDS Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Professional Bio:

Dr. Prerna Jain is a passionate Orthodontist with 12 years of clinical experience. She completed her BDS from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 2011. She then completed her MDS in Orthodontics from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 2015. She is well-specialized in treating all malaligned teeth and malocclusion for aesthetic and functional purposes. She is currently working in Mumbai.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Welcome to icliniq.com.

The best oral hygiene maintenance method is to brush your teeth with a soft or medium toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. The electronic toothbrush does not offer any real additional benefit to normal individuals. It is the movements of the toothbrush made by our hands that bring about thorough cleaning. Most of the toothpastes available in the market are good as long as they contain up to 1000 ppm fluoride. Brushing three times is good. The main goal is to clean the food deposits from all areas. Rinsing the mouth after meals is good yet a simple method to keep the mouth clean. Using mouthwash causes no real problem about upsetting the microflora or healthy bacteria.

You can continue to use it once a day. Professional cleaning is recommended every 6 to 12 months, depending on your plaque and calculus-forming tendency. Due to plaque deposition over a long period, there is temporary decalcification that might occur on the tooth surface. Thus, on professional cleaning when it is removed there will be a slightly increased sensitivity. However, it does not remove the enamel layer at a significant level. So, once we continue to use the fluoride toothpaste with a toothbrush, along with natural fluoride in water, the tooth surface gets remineralized. And then, the sensitivity disappears.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At September 20, 2016
Reviewed At October 8, 2024

Education:

MDS Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Professional Bio:

Dr. Prerna Jain is a passionate Orthodontist with 12 years of clinical experience. She completed her BDS from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 2011. She then completed her MDS in Orthodontics from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 2015. She is well-specialized in treating all malaligned teeth and malocclusion for aesthetic and functional purposes. She is currently working in Mumbai.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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Companion

How Should I Brush My Teeth? Oral Hygiene Brushing Technique Companion

How it works

Good oral hygiene is key to healthy teeth and gums. Here's what you need to know about brushing, mouthwash, and professional care.

1

Brushing
Frequency

2

Toothbrush
Choice

3

Fluoride
Toothpaste

4

Mouthwash
Use

5

Professional
Cleaning

6

Post-Cleaning
Sensitivity

This information is based on general medical guidance. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice; consult a qualified clinician.

Education:

MDS Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics

Professional Bio:

Dr. Prerna Jain is a passionate Orthodontist with 12 years of clinical experience. She completed her BDS from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 2011. She then completed her MDS in Orthodontics from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 2015. She is well-specialized in treating all malaligned teeth and malocclusion for aesthetic and functional purposes. She is currently working in Mumbai.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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