How Long Should You Brush Your Teeth?

To help maintain and improve your dental health, here’s the recommended time to brush your teeth, plus some other mouth-happy tips.

2 minutes—2 times a day

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends the 2/2 rule: brush for 2 minutes in the morning and 2 minutes at night with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. You could brush more often if you like, but the minimum for healthy teeth and gums is the 2/2 rule.¹

How do you know when you’ve reached 2 minutes? Try one of these methods:

Use the timer on your cell phone
Hum or play one of your favorite songs (which usually last 2 minutes or longer)
Go old school and use a clock

Brushing technique matters, too

How you brush is as important as how long you brush. The ADA suggests that you:²

Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums
Gently move the brush back and forth in short (tooth-wide) strokes
Brush the outer, inner and chewing surfaces of the teeth
Tilt the brush vertically and make up-and-down strokes to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth

Note: Brushing too hard, or with a hard toothbrush, can damage your teeth and irritate gums.³

Dental health is important to your overall health

Problems with your teeth and gums can affect the rest of your body.⁴ In addition to the 2/2 rule, the ADA recommends these simple steps to keep your smile and body strong:⁵

Clean between teeth once a day
Eat a balanced diet that limits sugary beverages and snacks
See your dentist regularly for prevention and treatment of oral disease

A little brushing goes a long way

4 minutes of daily brushing seems like an easy way to a bright, healthy smile. To see what can happen if you don’t brush your teeth properly, check out these causes and remedies for toothaches.