An effective toothbrushing session should last two minutes or more for children and adults. 

Here’s a simple way to make that happen… Divide your mouth up into four quadrants (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) and brush for 30 seconds in each quadrant. Not only will this help you brush for the correct duration, it also ensures you are giving all teeth equal attention. 

Clean molars make for happy teeth!

Additionally brush your teeth with the mouth closed in order to reach those hard to reach places on the sides of the top molars. 

A simple clock in your bathroom or a timer on your smartphone can help you track time. Sonicare and Oral B make electric toothbrushes with built-in timers. If you want to get more analytical about your hygiene, some electric brushes sync to your smartphone to create a record of usage.

For a child, a two-minute toothbrushing can seem like an eternity at the bathroom counter. Make it more enjoyable for them by finding a short song that finishes in approximately two minutes. When the song’s done, they’ll know it’s time to finish up. There are also electronic brushes for kids that can make the process more fun and engaging.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to make time in your busy day for a quality brushing routine. Your teeth will thank you for setting the minutes aside each day.

Looking for help or suggestions related to your toothbrushing routine?

The team at Fargo’s South University Dental is here to help you and your family develop a lifetime of quality brushing habits. Click here to email our office or call (701) 232-8884. One of our friendly team members will happily help you schedule a convenient appointment time.