Dentists Disagree on Best Tooth-Brushing Methods

All dentists can agree; plaque, cavities and gum disease are not part of a healthy mouth. But what's the best tooth-brushing method that helps keep teeth clean and going strong? There's more than one school of thought on this matter. 

Researchers set out to determine the most common tooth-brushing methods by examining dental advice in 10 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

"There's no good evidence at the moment that one method of brushing is more effective than another," said lead study author Dr. John Wainwright, via Reuters Health. "Ask more than one dentist or hygienist how to brush your teeth, and they're likely to give conflicting messages. It's confusing and potentially will make you wonder who you should trust to give you the best advice."

Despite researchers attempts at determining dental textbook brushing recommendations, they found that experts still can't seem to agree what's the "best" way to keep teeth clean.

For instance, while a majority of advisers recommended brushing for two minutes, some also recommended brushing for as much as three minutes.

In total, dentists and dental associations recommended six different methods of manual-tooth cleaning, according to findings presented in the British Dental Journal. Most also recommended brushing at least twice a day.

"A lot of different dental professionals advise different ways to brush your teeth," Wainwright concluded. "With the evidence currently available, a complex method may be no more useful than a simple scrub, which is a lot easier to learn."