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Sunday 15 January 2023

Brushing your teeth : Some Facts


"Do you remember the first time you learned to brush your teeth?

It seems like a simple thing to do, but you’ll be shocked to know that a lot of people still make mistakes when brushing their teeth.

What’s even more shocking is the idea of how people cleaned their teeth when toothbrushes still didn’t exist.

With that said, here are 10 facts about brushing your teeth to feed your curiosity!

1. It’s dangerous to brush your teeth immediately after eating.
You can damage your tooth enamel, the outer layer of your tooth, by brushing your teeth right after eating.

The tooth enamel weakens when you consume acidic foods like meat, pasta, and fish.

Dentists recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after a meal.

This is enough time for your tooth enamel to harden again, preventing it from being damaged.

2. The toothbrush we use today was invented in prison.
It’s crazy to think that people used to live without using a toothbrush.

For people to clean their teeth before, the most common way was to use a rug and soot.

William Addis hated this way of cleaning his teeth, which led him to make the first toothbrush in 1780 while he was imprisoned after starting a riot.

He made it by putting holes in a cow bone to insert pig bristles.

After being released from prison, he immediately built a company to mass-produce his invention.

3. Brushing your teeth is useless when you rinse.
You remove an active ingredient from your toothpaste called fluoride when rinsing after brushing your teeth.

Once removed, your teeth become prone to oral health problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and acid erosion.

Even using mouthwash after brushing your teeth can still take off the fluoride.

Spitting is the only way to remove excess toothpaste without getting rid of the toothpaste’s fluoride.

The only time you should rinse with water is after flossing since it guarantees that all food debris left in your mouth is washed away.

4. A hard-bristled toothbrush is bad for your teeth.
The reason why some hard-bristled toothbrushes are still sold boils down to the fact that some consumers believe they’re more effective in cleaning their teeth.

But thinking that a hard-bristled toothbrush cleans your teeth better is a myth.

It can make your gums bleed and damage your tooth enamel, which is why dentists don’t recommend it.

What they suggest instead is a soft-bristled toothbrush because it removes plaque from your teeth and gums in a gentle way.

It can also reach areas of your teeth that a hard-bristled toothbrush can’t clean.

But remember that brushing too hard with a soft-bristled toothbrush is no better than using a hard-bristled toothbrush.

5. Brushing your teeth isn’t enough to remove bad breath.
It doesn’t matter how often you brush your teeth daily; you’ll still have bad breath if you don’t clean your tongue.

When you see your tongue looks whitish or yellowish, it’s a sign for you to clean it.

A white or yellow tongue results from bacteria building up on your tongue, which can eventually reach your teeth and gums.

This makes brushing your teeth less effective in protecting them from oral health problems.

You can use the backside of your toothbrush to clean your tongue, but using a tongue scraper does a better job of removing bacteria and preventing bad breath.

6. Whitening toothpaste can damage your teeth.
Whitening toothpaste contains more abrasive ingredients than regular toothpaste.

This can make your teeth appear slightly whiter by removing extrinsic stains or stains from the outermost layer of your teeth.

Some examples would be stains from coffee, cigarettes, and sodas.

Although, using a whitening toothpaste comes with a risk as more abrasive toothpaste leads to thinner enamel, making your teeth sensitive and even appearing darker.

7. Your toothbrush contains bacteria.
Bacteria from your mouth stay on your toothbrush after brushing your teeth.

While most bacteria from it are harmless, some can cause infections.

Studies show that some bacteria are still found on your toothbrush despite rinsing it with water. That’s why dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush regularly.

Because aside from effectively removing plaque, a new toothbrush is less prone to fungal and bacterial growth.

It’s also better not to store your toothbrush in a closed container as this results in moisture, where bacteria thrive.

8. Heart problems can be a result of poor oral hygiene.
You wouldn’t suspect poor oral hygiene or dental problems can cause heart problems.

However, a study found that people with poor oral hygiene and gum disease had a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

Bacterial infection from bleeding gums can enter the bloodstream, affecting different parts of your body, like your heart.

This dental problem can trigger inflammation in the heart vessels and infect the heart valves.

So maintain your proper oral hygiene to achieve healthy teeth and heart.

9. It’s alright to brush your teeth without using toothpaste.
Surprisingly, toothbrushes alone can clean your teeth; the brushing motion is enough to remove plaque from your teeth.

Dentists even suggest dry brushing as it makes you take your time when brushing your teeth, removing more plaque.

Ideally, you should brush your teeth for two minutes — regardless if you use toothpaste or not.

Brushing for under a minute prevents you from removing a lot of plaque from your teeth.

On the other hand, brushing for more than 2 minutes can cause your gums to recede or your tooth enamel to erode.

10. An electric toothbrush cleans better than a manual toothbrush.
An electric toothbrush is more effective in removing plaque due to its vibration or rotation feature.

It also does a better job of making your gums healthy.

When it comes to the movement per minute, there’s a huge difference.

A manual toothbrush only generates around 300 to 400 movements per minute, while an electric toothbrush produces up to 48,000 movements per minute — depending on the type of electric toothbrush you use.

What makes most electric toothbrushes even better is their built-in timer feature that ensures you always brush your teeth for at least two minutes.


~ xx ~

Brushing your teeth is easy, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it effectively.

There are tips to consider before, during, and after brushing your teeth to ensure you’re not making dental hygiene mistakes.

Knowing these tips can prevent you from following misconceptions and increasing the risk of numerous health problems."
You can see the words above with related links in article here

Related Post
Let's Get Tooth Brushing : Some tips on looking after our teeth Read it here

You may also like to read 'Take care of your teeth and gums' by NHS UK here

Please note that articles within this blog are provided for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.

Dear reader, within this blog you will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, music and recipes! It is presented in a magazine style - we hope something for everyone. Our main focus is about the Low Carb Higher (Healthy) Fat lifestyle, LCHF for short, and you can read/find out more about that here

All the best Jan

35 comments:

Chatty Crone said...

I really learned a lot I didn't know. I appreciate the information!

Elephant's Child said...

Some of this I knew and some is new to me. Thank you.

DUTA said...

That's right. Oral infection might affect various parts of the body: heart, liver etc.. However, a body disease doesn't always affect the gums and teeth. I once visited a woman at the hospital with a terminal disease; her smile was perfect, teth and gums looked healthy. To this day, I'm still puzzled about it.

My name is Erika. said...

I can't imagine using a piece of a rug and soot to brush. Thank goodness we have toothbrushes, even if they were invented in prison.

Tom said...

...I learned a long time ago.

Christine said...

Very interesting points here.

happyone said...

I knew most of this but not that you shouldn't brush your teeth after you eat.
I also use a water pic and it makes a big difference!!!

Blogoratti said...

Thanks for sharing that, greetings to you!

Teresa said...

Un buen reportaje. Lo sabia casi todo ( la semana que viene tengo cita en el dentista ) Besos.

Kay said...

Thank you for this post. I knew a lot of it, BUT not all. I've read that you should brush your teeth before breakfast to clean the plaque off before you eat, but not to brush for a 1/2 hour after you eat. I also know to use a pea size dab of toothpaste and not a strip of it. Besides, toothpaste is a lot more expensive these days and the tubes are smaller.

peppylady (Dora) said...

I only brush twice a day, with only small amount of toothpaste.
Coffee is on and stay safe

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

What a great and informative post. I learned a lot of valuable facts. Thanks

J.P. Alexander said...

Muy interesante te mando un beso.

Conniecrafter said...

I learned quite a few new things, I had no idea you should wait to brush your teeth. That is something how the first one was made.
I can't imagine not rinsing my mouth, toothpaste just dries out my mouth.

Practical Parsimony said...

I had read all this before, except for the guy in prison and a rug and soot. We all need to hear this many times, lest we slip up and not be so vigilant. My grandmother chewed on a twig to make the end frazzled and cleaned her teeth this way all day long it seemed to me, a little child then. I am an avid flosser! I floss probably a dozen or more times each day.

OLga said...

grazie per questo post davvero interessante.

Jo said...

An interesting post. I did know some of the points but learnt some new things too.

roentare said...

Very interesting facts here. Enjoy your well written article!

linda said...

A very interesting post.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I usually always have to rinse my mouth after eating.
Brushing my teeth and flossing is part of my routine.
Thanks for sharing these facts.
Take care, have a great new week!

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Very interesting article. Thanx Jan.

God bless.

Jeanie said...

I just got my first electric toothbrush and I love it. I don't know why I resisted for so long. I didn't know that about the 30 minute rule. Thanks.

CJ Kennedy said...

Learn something new every day reading your blog 😊

Divers and Sundry said...

It's only in the past couple of years I've learned I shouldn't rinse, and I'm in my 60s! I've changed by toothbrushing practice as a result.

Inger said...

Thanks for this important information.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Very interesting post
A dentist told me to use a medium toothbrush after running it under hot water to soften the bristles.

Carla from The River said...

Thank you for all the great info on brushing our teeth. I am sharing the info with my husband.
:-)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love taking care of my teeth and use an electric toothbrush...it's the best! Thanks for the tips. I'm over here looking for a cup cake recipe. (someone has a birthday later this week! teehee)

William Kendall said...

Never thought of dry brushing.

Angie said...

Jan - this is great information. I do tend to buy the stiffer toothbrushes - I will change that habit!!! I also wanted to let you know that I recently prepared your Normandy Pork Casserole and really enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting my blog!

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

There is always something to be learned about dental health, so thanks for this information, Jan, as I learned a few things new to me, especially not brushing immediately after a meal and not rinsing after brushing.

Debbie said...

this was awesome...i never rinse after i brush, my dentist taught me that!! i want to get an electric toothbrush, going to put it on my to do list!!

Lowcarb team member said...

Angie said...
Jan - this is great information. I do tend to buy the stiffer toothbrushes - I will change that habit!!! I also wanted to let you know that I recently prepared your Normandy Pork Casserole and really enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting my blog!

Hello Angie
Many thanks for your comment about toothbrushing/toothbrushes.

Thanks also for letting me know about the Normandy Pork Casserole you recently enjoyed, always nice to get feed-back.

I've actually copied and pasted part of your comment on the original recipe post which you (and other readers) can see here.

http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2022/12/normandy-pork-casserole-perfect-for.html

All the best Jan

The Happy Whisk said...

I remember when I learned about heart and teeth. Just festinating.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Who knew that brushing your teeth could be so complicated?