Did you know that on average, a person typically brushes their teeth for 38 seconds? The bac¬terial film that accumulates on our teeth (plaque) is remarkably sticky. A quick brushing is simply not adequate to effectively remove this sticky plaque.

Dentist recommend 3 to 4 min¬utes as a proper brushing time. This seems like an eternity when a person is used to brushing for a little more than half a minute. The unfortunate truth is that if you are not brushing long enough, you are leaving a lot of plaque behind. I recommend using a three minute sand dial timer that you can buy in the house wares section of your supermarket. Or you can listen to the radio when you brush and time yourself by the length of a song. It is hard to keep track of time when we are brushing to get ready for work or school, or when we are tired at bedtime. Find a method that works for you that helps you brush for the proper amount of time. It makes a big difference in your oral hygiene.

Presented in the interest of promoting a better dental health environment from the office of: Frank Soltiz, DDS 13367 Broadway Alden, New York 14004 937-7812