The two minutes that matter most

After twenty-five years in the same chair, you start to notice patterns. The patients who avoid cavities decade after decade are not the ones using the most expensive electric toothbrush. They are the ones who brush for the full two minutes, twice a day, with a soft-bristled brush they replace every three months.

If you are short on time, prioritize the evening brush. Sleep slows saliva production, which is your mouth's natural defense against decay. Whatever sugar and starch is left on your teeth at night has eight uninterrupted hours to do damage.

Floss is the second non-negotiable. The toothbrush cannot reach the surfaces between your teeth — and that is exactly where most adult cavities form. If traditional floss is uncomfortable, water flossers work. The best tool is the one you will actually use every day.

Bring your questions to your next cleaning. We would rather spend ten extra minutes coaching technique than thirty minutes filling a cavity that did not need to happen.