Toothbrushing FAQs: How many times a day should you brush your teeth?

Reading time: 9 mins

How often should you brush your teeth? Whether it’s because we’re taught as children or because we’re told to by our dentists, generally, we all brush our teeth daily. While none of us doubt that daily oral hygiene is very important for the health of our teeth and our body, we all have our own habits and opinions – including when it comes to brushing.

From discussions on when should you brush your teeth to how long and how often you should brush, and even whether it’s better to use a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush or a sonic toothbrush, we all hold varying beliefs.

To clear up any confusion, this article will explore and answer common questions around the topic of brushing, including:

When is the best time to brush your teeth?
How many times should you brush your teeth per day?
How long should you brush for?
What steps should you follow when brushing your teeth?
How long should you wait to use mouthwash after brushing?

So, when do you brush your teeth? When should you use mouthwash? Read on to discover everything you need to know to begin properly brushing teeth and maintaining a happy and healthy mouth.

Why knowing how to brush teeth properly is key to your oral health

Before we launch into details like ‘when do you brush your teeth?’, you should really understand the importance of knowing the correct way to brush teeth:¹

Brushing your teeth helps to remove food residue and other unwanted debris.
Efficient oral care removes plaque build-up and prevents tartar.
Following the correct steps to brush and floss helps to prevent oral infections and diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis.

Now that you know why, let’s get down to answering your burning questions on how to brush your teeth properly.

How often should you brush your teeth?

If you are wondering how many times a day you should brush your teeth, the answer is simple. The NHS recommends that you brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day: once just before bed, and one other time during the day^.1 However, how many times a day you should brush your teeth will also depend on what you have eaten.

Should you brush after every meal?

You’re probably curious if it’s a good idea to brush more than twice; after all, we eat more than twice a day. It is actually a good idea to brush after every meal – especially if you have eaten sugary or acidic food. However, be sure to leave an hour after eating to avoid causing unwanted damage.

How long should you brush your teeth?

The NHS recommends brushing your teeth for around two minutes.¹ It’s worth noting that just as brushing for less than two minutes will not do a thorough job, brushing for too long is also detrimental. If you brush for more than two or three minutes, it may damage your enamel and gums.²

When is the best time to brush your teeth?

When should you brush your teeth? This depends on a number of things such as which meal it is and what you have eaten. Here are a few tips:

In the morning it’s best to brush your teeth before breakfast. Breakfast favourites such as fruit and yoghurt are acidic and attack the enamel.
Don’t brush immediately after eating. If you brush directly after eating, you’re scrubbing off the weakened enamel, so always leave an hour after eating before brushing your teeth.
Always brush your teeth before bed. This will ensure that your teeth are clean before you sleep, which in turn will help to prevent plaque from working away and destroying your teeth overnight.

Tip: It’s a good idea to brush after the consumption of acidic foods in general, such as fruit juice, citrus fruits, soft drinks and alcohol, irrespective of the time of day. Just ensure you leave enough time between eating and brushing, so you don’t do more harm than good.

Philips Sonicare in different colours in their glass charger

How long can you go without brushing your teeth?

You now know you should be brushing your teeth twice a day, every day – but what if there are times when you can’t?

You should aim to brush your teeth as often as you can as within a few days, plaque will harden to tartar³ and begin to erode your tooth enamel. This can lead to dental issues such as cavities and gum recession.

‘How long can you go without brushing your teeth?’ isn’t really a question you want to learn the answer to first-hand, so remember to pack your toothbrush when you’re travelling.

What sort of toothpaste should you use?

The NHS recommends using a toothpaste that contains at least 1,350 parts per million (ppm) fluoride. You should be able to find the fluoride concentration on the packaging.¹

Do you need to use floss after brushing?

While it is often believed that flossing is a non-essential addition to your oral hygiene routine, it is actually more key to your oral health than you may realise. Cleaning the interdental spaces is crucial for your overall dental health, and the best way to do this is by flossing once a day. The NHS recommends flossing before you brush your teeth, rather than after.¹

Tip: If you’re not a fan of flossing, why not try an interdental brush or specialist product such as the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser?

How long should you wait to use mouthwash after brushing?

If you’re following the steps to brush properly, then you know you need to brush for two minutes, floss, and use an antibacterial mouthwash. But when should you use mouthwash?

It may be tempting to use mouthwash as part of your brushing routine, but it’s better to use it at a time you’re not brushing your teeth. For example, if you brush your teeth in the morning and evening, get into the habit of using mouthwash after lunch.¹

Using mouthwash too soon after brushing will dilute and wash away the fluoride in toothpaste, reducing how effectively it protects your tooth enamel. Waiting will ensure that both the toothpaste you used to brush and the mouthwash itself have a chance to work to their maximum effect. For the same reason, you shouldn’t rinse your mouth out with water straight after brushing.¹

Does it make a difference which toothbrush you use?

You may find it easier to clean your teeth thoroughly with an electric toothbrush than with a manual one.¹ In this article you can read about the differences between electric rotating and sonic toothbrushes.

Tip: The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean sonic toothbrush removes up to 10 times more plaque than a manual toothbrush and helps you maintain the natural white of your teeth, as well as prevent dental and gum disease.

How often should I change my toothbrush?

How often you should change your toothbrush – or brush head – depends on which type of brush you are using. Here are the facts about when to change your brush to ensure it’s hygienic and can help you brush properly:

Manual toothbrush: If you’re using a manual toothbrush, you should change it at least every three months. However, if the bristles start to look worn out earlier than the three-month mark, then you should of course change it sooner.⁴
Electric or sonic toothbrush: If you’re using an electric rotating or a sonic toothbrush, you should change the brush head every six to eight weeks. To make it easier, indicator brushes let you know when it’s time to change the brush head with a change in colour.

Tip: It is also important to clean your toothbrush regularly. Find out more about this here.

Toothbrushing myths debunked

Now that you know all the answers to FAQs such as ‘how many times should you brush your teeth’, let’s cover some common myths about toothbrushing. A lot of rumours circulate around the topic of brushing, and we’re here to debunk them.

The harder you scrub, the cleaner your teeth will become. Wrong! If you press too hard when brushing, you’re damaging the enamel and gums.

You should brush your teeth in circular motions. Wrong! While this used to be believed to be the best way to brush, it’s no longer the recommendation. If you’re using a manual toothbrush, you should ‘vibrate’ and sweep from top to bottom, instead of brushing in a circular motion.

You should brush directly after eating. Wrong! You now know better thanks to our answers to the FAQs above. As we have already mentioned, acids from foods attack the enamel of your teeth. Brushing immediately after eating will do more damage than good. Wait about an hour before brushing your teeth after eating.

With this guide, you now know the answers to all the important questions about brushing. Now all you need to do is follow a daily oral hygiene and care routine to ensure you are taking good care of your teeth. Your smile (and your body) will thank you for it!

Sources :
¹ How to keep your teeth clean, NHS.
² Sensitive teeth, BUPA.
³ Tooth plaque, NHS Great Ormond Street.
⁴ Brushing your teeth, NHS Kent Community Health.