Advocacy

Oral Health Resources

Find downloadable information about common dental issues and procedures. For more information catering to your patients’ needs, visit www.KnowYourTeeth.com, the Academy of General Dentistry’s public Web site.

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   >>> Brushing   Related articles:
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  • How Long Should I Brush?

    • >> Don't Rush the Brush, Brush to the Beat!
     
       Bruxism (Tooth Grinding)  
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    Don't Rush the Brush, Brush to the Beat!

    Despite the variety and advancements in toothbrushes today, people don't brush long enough to get the best results, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

     

    "Since many people brush during the morning or at night with the radio on, I tell my patients to brush for one song," says Luke Matranga, DDS, past president of the AGD. "That's about three minutes – the right amount of time to get the best results from brushing."

     

    "People will swear that they've brushed three to four minutes, but the average person brushes for less than a minute. This is not long enough to reach all areas of the mouth and scrub off cavity-causing bacteria," says Dr. Matranga.

     

    Updated: March 2007

     
    The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is a non-profit organization of more than 35,000 general dentists dedicated to staying up-to-date in the profession through continuing education. A general dentist is the primary care provider for patients of all ages and is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services related to patient's oral health needs. Learn more about AGD member dentists or find more information on dental health topics at www.agd.org/public.

    Contact: The AGD public relations department at 312.440.4308 or media@agd.org.

    Note: Information that appears in General Dentistry, the AGD's peer-reviewed journal, AGD Impact, the AGD's newsmagazine and related press releases do not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the AGD.