Why brush twice a day?

From childhood we’ve been told to brush twice a day. Your dentist also recommends the same every visit. But honestly how many of us actually follow it? Some of us Dentists don’t follow it as well (Top Secret). Hey, but I do okay. I practice what I preach.

Brushing twice a day seems quite a task, doesn’t it? Brushing in the morning is pretty much routine for most of us. We all have our personal preferences as to why we do it. Minty fresh breath in the morning, before breakfast, after breakfast, before stepping out or before sleeping. Channeling the will to pick up the brush, put a pea sized drop of toothpaste and brush for 5 minutes or more seems so difficult. But is it really?

Let me try and add some logic as to why it’s important to brush twice a day. Morning brushing is to protect the teeth throughout the day. Bacteria basically feeds on the food that’s stuck on teeth and releases an acid that eats through the teeth causing cavities. So, morning brushing not only gives you fresh breath but prevents cavity formation.

At night though, a lot of Plaque would have formed from an entire day of eating, which gives the bacteria more food to feast on. Also, while you sleep, the saliva produced is far less than in the day due to the biological clock (Circadian Rhythm) so the barrier of saliva that usually protects teeth and gums is minimal, thus increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Thus, brush twice a day to keep your teeth for an eternity!!

  

Smiling off,

Radhika.