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Dentists Warn Against Over Brushing

BOSTON (WBZ) ― A lot of us are spending a lot of money to have a smile with perfectly white teeth, but dentists are raising a red flag. They're afraid some people may be brushing too much.

For decades, dentists have told us to brush our teeth after we eat and before bed time, and like millions Americans, Emily Calone follows that advice. "I brush my teeth three times a day."

But could all that brushing backfire? Dr. Stephen Greene believes it can. "It causes at least as much damage as it prevents."

Some dentists worry patients are expecting too much from those whitening toothpastes and they're simply brushing too often and too hard in an effort to get results. "Anytime somebody wants to get their teeth white they'll do some pretty crazy things -- including over-brushing," said Dr. Gerard Kugel of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

He said that can cause gums to recede, which can be trouble. "The problem with receding gums is the root surface isn't like enamel…it's more prone to cavities."

A recent study presented at a major dental conference found this so-called "toothpaste abuse" was a major cause of wear from abrasion. "People can abuse anything, even toothpaste," said Kugel.

Some doctors believe with today's fluoride toothpastes, its possible to cut back on brushing to twice a day -- or maybe even less. "I tell my patients to thoroughly clean their mouths once every day," said Greene.

It may seem contrary to what we've been told, but Kugel agrees. He says it's not the food that causes the problems -- it's the bacteria, and that takes 24 hours to build up on your teeth. "If you did a two minute brushing, you did it once a day and you did it correctly, that would actually be enough.

But Kugel says the American Dental Association recommends two daily brushings because most people don't do a thorough job. "Two minutes is an eternity when you're busy."

But it's all you need for a healthy mouth.

If you're like Emily and you have to have white teeth, Kugel says you'll probably need something more than a whitening toothpaste. He said you'll get the best results from your dentist, but there are some over-the-counter products that will do a decent job.

Check with your dentist for a recommendation.

Dr. Kugel says there have been no scientific studies linking whitening toothpastes with damage like receding gums, but he believes its possible.

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