Brushing too much
By chantalle25
@chantalle25 (208)
Philippines
December 29, 2012 5:28am CST
Everyday we brush our teeth to avoid dental caries and for oral hygiene purposes. When we were kids, our mom told us to brush our teeth every after meal or as necessary. Every week, I do the groceries and I really wondered that our toothpaste at home never reaches one week and it's all out. I usually bought a big toothpaste for us, I was wondering why and found out that my cousin brushes her teeth several times a day! I mean it is okay to brush your teeth to avoid bad breath and other dental condition. I started to spy on her then I found out she brushes her teeth when she wakes up, before eating, after eating and then after 2 hours she brushes her teeth. It was 2 pm after she brushed her teeth then it was 4 pm we ate our snacks and she brushes her teeth again, before dinner she brushed again and then after dinner and before going to sleep. Is it normal? I am really worried if it can cause some condition on her gums or what? 8 times a day? Is it normal? What can you say about this? Maybe this is why we are running out of toothpaste at home lol.
2 people like this
14 responses
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
29 Dec 12
I think your cousin is developing obsessive compulsive disorder as manifested by brushing too much. It isn't healthy to brush teeth too much too, in a day, one must brush 2 times at max because brushing more than 2 times removes all the normal flora in our teeth which it needs to stay healthy, also it erodes the teeth making it more brittle than normal.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
29 Dec 12
Hi friend
I agree her cousin must have developed this disorder some people clean thing more than required and they feel it as normal . Tooth much of cleaning is not advisable.
@chantalle25 (208)
• Philippines
30 Dec 12
Yah you are right, I think she's an OC. I never imagined myself brushing 8 times a day and I think my gums would sore. I don not know if she's already aware of what she's dong everyday and if ever someone had told her about that.
@prashu228 (37524)
• India
29 Dec 12
Hi
Cleaning of teeth is very good but too much of brushing in a day will damage enamel layer present on the teeth and make the teeth rough ,they also loose the shiny appearance as well as white color proved scientifically .So brushing twice a day is better than brushing 8 times a day.
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
29 Dec 12
any object, no matter how hard it may seem to be, would suffer damage if there is a force acting on it. it may chaffe, and it may even break down. so most probably, if you brush you teeth often enough, the enamel may corrode and may cause a significant damage to teeth.
1 person likes this
@arnold1428 (125)
• India
29 Dec 12
hi murkie you are right, enamel gets damaged with too much brushing of teeth. The dentists themselves say that.
1 person likes this
@Belle_of_the_Ball (896)
• Philippines
29 Dec 12
I agree with murkie and Arnold, few years ago, I suffered from bleeding gums. my dentist told me to brush my teeth in a circular motion and reduce brushing my teeth from 5 times a day to at least two or three times a day.She also suggested to gurgle with tepid water before brushing to ensure that the build up on teeth will easily be removed.
1 person likes this
@squallming (1775)
• Malaysia
26 Mar 13
The maximum time that one should brush their teeth in a day is three times only. This is because it should be good enough to make your teeth clean and healthy. If one brushes his or her teeth too many times, it is worried that the natural protective layer of teeth would be damaged or brushed away. If that happens, one's teeth will be subject to greater rate of decay and breaks. 
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
21 Apr 13
Hi friend, i think your cousin is very sensitive about her teeth. Brushing 8 times a day is really too much. There is nothing wrong in brushing twice or thrice a day, but too much of brushing activities may give some unwanted dental issues. Just consult with a dentist about this issue, hope you will get a good idea
@kunu111185 (211)
• India
30 Dec 12
Cleaning teeth properly is a very good practice as it prevent formation of dental caries and keep the teeth clean and white.Brushing teeth 2-3 times a day is normal but more than that is never good for teeth.Teeth is covered by enamel which is the white part of the teeth.More brushing may damage the hardest enamel and teeth become lose the whiteness.Even two time brushing of teeth is not very bad one in morning and one at night before going to bed.Rest of the time you can use mouth washes without brushing it.
• United States
29 Dec 12
If she is this anal about her teeth, tell her to gargle with baking soda and water after eating or drinking (especially foods that contain a lot of acid). It neutralizes the acid and will leave her teeth much cleaner than brushing them so much.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
29 Dec 12
Everything in moderation! Including cleaning your teeth, if you clean your teeth excessively then it can actually have the reverse affect, and can be as bad as not brushing at all, continual brushing throughout the day will wear away the enamel on your teeth quicker. Twice a day is ample.
@zoey7879 (3092)
• Quincy, Illinois
29 Dec 12
I brush three to five times each day.. And sometimes after I drink a thick, sugary drunk such as punch or a soft drink. I brush and use mouthwash after waking up each day, after each time that I eat (yes, even at work on my lunch break!), and I rinse and brush before bed each night.
If I have been around someone who is extremely ill, I'll rinse my mouth out with peroxide. I also brush my tongue once a day.
@eagletrek2 (5499)
• Kingston, New York
29 Dec 12
Hi I over herd some people were I work
that they do it to . the ladies have a little
tooth brush kit in there pocket book(purse).
and whey they have any meals or snack they are
at again.here 1 item that rally destroy you teeth
soda not only the Suger but the carbation all so eat
at your teeth.and brushing does not work at that.
that how I lost most of my bottom teeth.here the best
thing to do ask your Denties ,the tell you what good
and bad.the right way.how was you cousin last Dental
check up? that can help you .OK have a good day.
@Jenith (1381)
• Philippines
29 Dec 12
We are only allowed to brush our teeth 2-3 times a day and have a regular check-up with the dentist every 6 months. If brushing your teeth will go beyond that, there's a possibility that the outer layer of your teeth would be damage. Well, it depends too on how you brush your teeth. During snacks, a gargle would do the job.
@pandora22 (868)
• Romania
29 Dec 12
8 times is definitely to much. She can cause an irritation or even infection of her gums. Excessive brushing can lead to lesions of the gums and if the toothpaste is for whitening will cause an irritation for sure and it can even attack the enamel.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
29 Dec 12
wow wow, she brushes so many times a day. it is definitely not normal. even doctors do not suggest it. One must remember that too much of anything is not good. maybe you want to advise your cousin on this, she will have bad effect of this and you can ask her why she was doing this. I think she has a preconceived idea of something that is why she is brushing so much. She needs help. Good day
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
29 Dec 12
I never ever thought about that. I drink alot of coffee here, so I brush my teeth 2-3 times a day here. Ive never ever asked the dentist about that. I just might next time I go see him. happy new years...
@christylynn41 (200)
• United States
29 Dec 12
yes, my dentist has told me that we should not brush our teeth more than 3 times a day. I normally brush mine after breakfast and then sometime in the afternoon and then right before I go to bed. I try to have the kids on the same schedule as well.
