Can you brush your teeth too much?

Daily oral hygiene is essential for a healthy smile, but can you over-brush your teeth? We know it’s important to remove the plaque and food debris from our mouth, but when it comes to brushing we must be using the correct technique.  

Over-brushing your teeth is more about the technique than about the amount of time. Compulsively brushing or brushing too vigorously can lead to several different dental concerns.

Potential Dental Concerns with Over-Brushing

1. Tooth Abrasion. This occurs when there is a loss of tooth structure by mechanical forces from a foreign object. This will often appear as a V-shaped indentation along the gumline. It will look shiny and often yellow or brown. The enamel has worn away and the underlying tooth structure is now exposed.
2. Gum Recession: Your gums could receded, exposing the roots of your teeth. This increases the risk for sensitivity and gum disease.
3. Tooth Sensitivity: This occurs when the enamel is worn away due to vigorous brushing. Nerve endings become exposed causing sensitivity. This could happen when your teeth are exposed to hot, cold, sweet, or sour stimuli. It could also happen when you brush your teeth.

It is recommended to brush twice a day for two minutes. Once in the morning and once before bed. Brushing more than three times a day is generally unnecessary.

Tips for Your Brushing Technique

• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush.
• Use gentle motions, instead of a vigorous scrubbing motion
• Brush for two minutes, twice a day. Remember to reach all the surfaces of your teeth.
• Wait to brush after eating. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating before brushing. Brushing immediately after an acidic meal or drink can be harmful to your teeth.

The ADA (2024) recommends the following technique for brushing:

1. Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. 
2. Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes. 
3. Brush the outer surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
4. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.

Reference:

American Dental Association (ADA). (2024) Retrieved from Brushing Your Teeth | MouthHealthy - Oral Health Information from the ADA