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Toothbrush Timer
Press Start and follow the screen. Beeps tell you when to move to the next part of your mouth.
Step 1 / 4
Top right, top left, bottom left, bottom right: 30 seconds each, the way most electric brushes pace it.
Outsides, insides and chewing surfaces, top then bottom: 20 seconds each. Good for teaching the surfaces.
2 minute timer for brushing teeth: the two sequences
| Step | 4 corners | 6 zones |
|---|---|---|
| Get ready | 5 s | 5 s |
| 1 | Top right, 30 s | Top teeth, outside, 20 s |
| 2 | Top left, 30 s | Top teeth, inside, 20 s |
| 3 | Bottom left, 30 s | Top teeth, chewing surfaces, 20 s |
| 4 | Bottom right, 30 s | Bottom teeth, outside, 20 s |
| 5 | Bottom teeth, inside, 20 s | |
| 6 | Bottom teeth, chewing surfaces, 20 s | |
| Brushing time | 2:00 | 2:00 |
Both plans add up to the two minutes that dentists recommend. In the four-corner plan, brush the outside, inside and chewing surface of each corner before the beep.
How to use it
- Choose a plan. Four corners gives each quarter of the mouth 30 seconds. Six zones gives the outside, inside and chewing surfaces of the top and bottom teeth 20 seconds each.
- Put toothpaste on the brush, prop the phone by the mirror and press Start. You have 5 seconds to get the brush into your mouth.
- Brush the part named on the screen. Three short beeps and a longer tone mean move on, so you never need to look down.
- When the screen says you are finished, spit out the foam. Brush your tongue if you like, then rinse the brush and stand it upright to dry.
How long should you brush your teeth
Dentists, including the American Dental Association, recommend brushing for two minutes, twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush. Two minutes feels long at a sink with nothing to look at, and most people stop well short of it when nobody is timing. The other common problem is uneven brushing: the front teeth get most of the attention and the back molars and inside surfaces get a quick pass.
Splitting the time fixes both. Each part of the mouth gets the same share, and the beep moves you on before you settle into the easy spots. Hold the brush at about 45° to the gums and use short, gentle strokes. Pressing harder does not clean better and can wear the gums.
A teeth brushing timer for kids
For children the six-zone plan works well because it names the surfaces they forget: the insides and the chewing tops. Read the screen aloud for a child who cannot read yet, or let the beeps be the signal and point to where the brush goes next.
Use a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice for children under 3, and a pea-sized amount from 3 to 6. Children need an adult to brush for them or with them for longer than most parents expect. A common dentists’ rule of thumb is to keep helping until about age 6 to 8, roughly when a child can tie their own shoes.
Common mistakes
- Scrubbing hard with a firm brush. Soft bristles and light pressure clean the gumline without scraping it.
- Starting in the same easy place and running out of patience before the inside of the bottom teeth. Follow the order on the screen.
- Rinsing with lots of water straight afterwards. Many dentists advise spitting and not rinsing, so the fluoride stays on the teeth.
- Keeping a brush until the bristles splay. Replace the brush or brush head every three to four months, sooner if it looks worn.
Questions people ask
How long should you brush your teeth?
Two minutes, twice a day. That is the American Dental Association’s recommendation, and it is what both plans on this timer add up to.
Is 30 seconds per quadrant enough?
Yes, if you cover all three surfaces in that corner: outside, inside and chewing surface. Four corners at 30 seconds each makes the full two minutes.
Does this work with an electric toothbrush?
Yes. Many electric brushes pulse every 30 seconds, which matches the four-corner plan. The six-zone plan is useful if your brush has no pacer or you want to follow surfaces instead of corners.
At what age can a child brush their own teeth?
Most children need hands-on help until about age 6 to 8. Dentists often say a child who can tie their own shoes has the hand control to brush well alone. Until then, let them have a turn and then finish the job yourself.
Should I brush before or after breakfast?
Either is accepted. If you brush after eating, many dentists suggest waiting a while after acidic food or drink such as orange juice. Brushing last thing before bed is the one that should not be skipped.
Can I turn the beeps off?
Yes. Switch Beeps off in the settings and the screen still changes color and name at each step. With a sleeping baby nearby you can also lower the volume or use vibrate on a phone.