As strange as it may seem back when I was studying medicine in Europe in English a lot of my colleagues had some misconceptions about dental health; myself included, but to a much lesser extent.
It’s widely accepted not to talk about this topic, as if it’s an intrusion in the other person’s life. However, we had to undergo somewhat of a social experiment on dental health that was being done by our colleagues from the dentistry faculty. I was amazed when most of the people from my group said that they use the same toothbrush for months or wash their teeth for just around 30 seconds. What’s more, no one was using antiseptic mouthwash products, which do miracles when it comes to killing bacteria in your mouth. These, however, should always be used with caution.
It turned out that we, medical students that pride in their understanding of health, had no idea how to take care of our mouths and teeth. Oral hygiene is of utmost importance if you have to study for a whole six years to become a certified dentist. Now, this is another reason to study dentistry, to learn how to take care of your dental health!
As weird as it may seem, after these events, I started asking my friends how strict they are on their dental health. It turned out that most of them wash their teeth only in the morning. I got utterly stunned by the news.
In this way, the medical university in Europe where I used to study taught me how I should take care of my mouth. It also motivated me to raise awareness on how important that is because people often tend to overlook their oral hygiene. They think that teeth take care of themselves and are unimportant. I’ve seen people who by the looks of it have never brushed their teeth which is mindblowing.
I will share some tips with you on basic oral hygiene.
Tip #1: Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day but not More
Once in the morning and once before bedtime should be enough, consider investing in a mechanical toothbrush. It would substantially decrease the levels of plaque and populations of bacteria.
Tip #2: Keep Your Toothbrush Isolated
Most toothbrushes come with their little plastic protectors, but others don’t. It’s imperative that your brush shouldn’t touch someone else’s brush directly. In this way, you can transfer immense amounts of bacteria between each other’s mouths. Gross!
Tip #3: Brush Your Teeth for at Least Two Minutes
Two minutes may sound like a long time, but it’s essential to put the effort in this. I believe that in less than two weeks you’ll develop a habit of it. I used to increase my brush time from one to two minutes quite quickly. Some of my friends who went to study dentistry in Europe started washing their teeth for five and even ten minutes. This can hurt your tooth enamel so don’t overkill.
Tip #4: Consider Cleaning Your Tongue
It turns out that our tongues contain just as much bacteria as our teeth and sometimes even more. What you can do is buy a tongue scraper from the local pharmacy and start using it right away. Make sure you scrape your tongue before you brush your teeth. Trust me, scraping does miracles, and it is a must for people with bad breath.
I hope I’ve given you the necessary information you need to keep your dental health at an acceptable level. Don’t forget to spread awareness!
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