Tooth brushing Mistake No.3: “Not Brushing Often Enough or Long Enough”

A simple task like brushing your teeth can easily be taken for granted – even more so if it’s your child who’s doing the brushing!  A good rule of thumb is to make your tooth brushing last about two to three minutes, with half of the time spent on upper teeth and half on lower. Kids’ attention spans move so quickly from one thing to the next that this may be more challenging than it sounds to implement – if that’s the case, you can try to make a game of the daily toothbrushing, or offer some kind of reward to your child when they go for the correct length of time. Get creative and treat it as a fun exercise together and it won’t simply be a chore any more – you’ll both be able to enjoy it!

How Often Should I Brush?

The old standby, once in the morning and once at night, is a great start. If your child wears braces or invisalign, an extra time in the middle of the day may be advisable in order to keep them as clean as possible. No matter if it’s two or three times, make sure to promote consistency for your whole family when brushing your teeth, as this is one of the most effective ways to minimize orthodontist and dentist visits.

More Questions and Information

If you’re looking for more information for your family, the team behind Dr. Joel Gluck will be happy to help! For help with invisalign questions and issues, tooth brushing techniques, general advice, and more, Dr. Gluck is the orthodontist of choice for your family. Improve your family’s smiles and help their teeth stay healthy – schedule an appointment today.

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Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983 when he opened his own office in Nashville. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gluck then completed an orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Michigan, one of the top five orthodontic training residencies in the country. He also wrote an original thesis and received a Master of Science degree.