A few days ago, during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, singer Jessica Simpson confessed that she only brushes her teeth three times per week. That statement unleashed a hailstorm of really negative chatter on the web even including scathing remarks from her own dentist!

Surprisingly, Jessica Simpson’s dental hygiene is not as gruesome as it sounds. In fact, if you examine what she said (see http://bit.ly/JSimpTeeth) her oral hygiene may just be better than most!

First of all, she flosses everyday. Flossing is the MOST effective way to remove interproximal plaque (between the teeth).

She also uses Listerine on a daily basis. Listerine has been proven to be effective in reducing the harmful effects of plaque and has been shown to be beneficial in preventing gingivitis.

Additionally, she scrubs her teeth with a shirt or cloth-like material and thus mechanically removes the plaque from the facial and lingual surfaces of her teeth (front and back or more specifically cheek and tongue sides).

The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day and flossing once daily. Even though Jessica doesn’t follow conventional wisdom for good oral hygiene, her personal technique may just be good enough to keep her smile beautiful and healthy. Admittedly, I would love to have the opportunity see her as a patient, evaluate the efficacy of her home care, and recommend modifications if necessary.

But, sight unseen, I would like to add that as a proponent of soft toothbrushes, I’d like her to go light on the starch in her shirts and use a fluoride rinse.

You just never know.