How the 2-2-2 Rule in Dentistry Transforms Your Oral Health
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A smile is truly a powerful thing. From lowering your blood pressure and decreasing stress levels to boosting your immune system and elevating your mood, smiling has multiple benefits, whether you’re giving or receiving one.
Following simple oral health tips like the 2-2-2 rule in dentistry helps protect your beautiful smile. At Sanitas Family Dentistry, we’re passionate about educating you on how to preserve your oral health, and we are fully committed to providing exceptional preventive dental care.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2-2-2 rule.
What Is the 2-2-2 Rule in Dentistry?
The 2-2-2 rule in dentistry promotes good oral health habits, and the repeating triple digits make it easy to remember. Simply put, the 2-2-2 rule is:
Brush your teeth 2 times a day.
Brush your teeth for 2 minutes each time.
Visit your dentist 2 times a year (for dental cleanings and checkups).
While the concept is simple, practicing each part of the rule (and not skipping any!) is vital to maintaining good overall dental health.
Let’s start with the importance of brushing your teeth.
To Brush Twice a Day or Not to Brush?
The enamel on your teeth is the hardest substance in your body. However, cavities and poor oral hygiene habits can damage your enamel and have a negative impact on your teeth’s integrity.
Brushing your teeth helps remove plaque that forms when bacteria, saliva, and acid mix in your mouth after you eat and drink.
Plaque is sticky, and if you don’t remove it thoroughly and regularly, it hardens and forms tartar on your teeth that a dental hygienist must remove with special instruments during dental cleanings.
Left untreated, plaque and tartar can cause cavities and gum disease. In some cases, these issues can progress and cause an infection or compromise the stability of your teeth.
After reviewing scientific studies and government and professional association guidelines, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends people brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to reduce their risk for cavities and “gingival recession or periodontitis.”
Brushing your teeth twice daily typically means doing so in the morning and at night. Flossing daily is also essential to remove buildup between your teeth and along your gums.
Understanding the Health Impacts of Oral Hygiene Habits
You may not realize how oral hygiene habits can significantly impact your overall health. For instance, if you don’t brush, floss, or visit the dentist regularly, the germs in your mouth can not only cause gum disease and tooth decay, but these conditions may, in turn, cause:
Endocarditis – An infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers or valves.
Cardiovascular disease
Pneumonia
Pregnancy or birth complications
Other health conditions and disorders that affect oral health include:
Diabetes
Cancer
HIV/AIDS
Alzheimer's disease
Rheumatoid arthritis
Eating disorders
Sjogren’s syndrome
Severe untreated gum disease (aka periodontitis) can also destroy your jawbone and lead to tooth loss.
Why Brushing for 2 Minutes Matters
As a compassionate Boulder, Colorado dentist, we get that our patients lead busy, multitasking lives — which begs the question, “Is it really necessary to brush my teeth for two minutes?” And “If yes, then why?”
A scientific study in The Journal of Dental Hygiene actually prompted the recommendation. Research shows that the average person brushes their teeth for only 45 seconds. By comparison, study participants who brushed their teeth for 2 minutes instead of 45 seconds removed 26% more plaque.
Sure, the tendency to swipe, swish, and spit for 45 seconds seems more reasonable when you’re running late and trying to hurry out the door. But 45 seconds isn’t long enough to effectively fight plaque and tooth decay.
You can try some of these suggestions to help ensure you brush for 2 minutes:
Set a timer for 2 minutes on your phone, tablet, smartwatch, or wristwatch.
Play a 2-minute song to brush along with.
Use an electric toothbrush with a built-in 2-minute timer.
Divide your mouth into four sections (upper and lower on each side of your mouth) and spend 30 seconds brushing in each.
Brush the surfaces of your teeth using a gentle circular motion.
Also, brush your tongue.
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More oral hygiene tips include:
Wait an hour to brush your teeth after having acidic food and drinks like citrus foods and drinks, sugar-laden soda, sports drinks, or candy.
Drink lots of water.
Don’t smoke or use tobacco products.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with angled or layered bristles to reach tight nooks and crannies.
Don’t brush too hard.
Replace your toothbrush every three to four months (or sooner if the bristles wear down or break).
Floss every day.
Rinse with mouthwash after brushing and flossing.
The Benefits of Visiting the Dentist 2 Times a Year
If you’re already brushing your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time and flossing once a day, you’re on the right track.
Visiting the dentist twice a year for routine dental cleanings and exams is also an essential part of maintaining good oral health.
No matter how well you brush, some tartar will inevitably build up that a dental hygienist must remove with special instruments.
At each bi-annual visit, Dr. Krista and the Sanitas team will collect a health history, update your medication list, confirm your contact information, and review the office privacy policy. You’ll also report any problems or concerns with your teeth or gums since your last visit.
Making twice-yearly dental visits offers multiple benefits, such as:
Learning how to improve dental hygiene and maintain good oral hygiene
Receiving exemplary preventative dental care to help stave off future dental issues
Catching tooth decay before an infection starts
Spotting and treating infections early
Identifying bite or alignment issues
Detecting signs of grinding and offering solutions
Identifying cracks or other structural teeth issues
Detecting early signs of gingivitis before it progresses to periodontitis
Promoting healthier gums
Eliminating bad breath
Boosting self-esteem with a brighter smile
Universal Principles with Individual Results
The concepts of the 2-2-2 rule in dentistry offer universal principles that everyone can apply to their oral hygiene routine. Because every mouth, every set of teeth, every smile, and every person is unique, the 2-2-2 rule will deliver individual results for each person.
The caring Sanitas team tailors every dental treatment plan to meet each patient’s individual needs in correlation with their overall systemic health.
In addition to regular and deep dental cleaning using the latest dental technologies, some of the services Sanitas provides include:
Follow the 2-2-2 Rule in Dentistry with a Team You Can Trust
Following the three simple steps of the 2-2-2 rule in dentistry can transform your oral health, protect your smile, and help prevent tooth decay and larger dental issues.
If you’re looking for a Boulder, Colorado dentist or a Superior Colorado dentist, we realize you have lots of options. At the end of the day, we know you want to work with a team you can trust.
At Sanitas Family Dentistry, we proudly use a comprehensive approach to treat the whole person with compassionate care and expert knowledge. We believe in full transparency with the services we provide to maximize your comfort and help alleviate your concerns about going to the dentist.
We know many people are anxious to go to a dental appointment, and we hope we can make a positive difference and ease those kinds of worries.
Implementing the 2-2-2 rule in dentistry can help people stay out of the office between hygiene appointments because they don’t need extra dental work due to good oral hygiene habits. It really can’t get much better than that.
Serving Members of Our Vibrant Community Makes Us Smile
Dr. Krista and her Sanitas staff aim to build long-lasting relationships with patients while treating your teeth as an integral part of your overall health.
As a Boulder-based family dentist, we can’t help but grin that our business revolves around smiles. We understand firsthand that smiles are powerful, contagious, and can turn someone’s day around for the better in a split second.
We love serving members of the vibrant community surrounding our practice. Whether you’re seeking a family dentist in Superior, Colorado or a Boulder, Colorado dentist with expertise in oral health and a warm, personal approach, we’re confident we can serve you and your family with a smile.
If you’d like to improve your oral hygiene and want to start following the 2-2-2 rule in dentistry, feel free to contact Sanitas Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment at our Boulder office today.