10 Toothbrushing Habits That Affect Your Dental Health

While having a regular toothbrushing habit is good, using the right toothbrush and brush at the right times is even more important. Also, you should use toothpaste suitable for your dental condition and consider what kind of food you eat. If you have any incorrect tooth brushing habits, it’s best to correct them and develop proper habits since it’s an everyday routine.

Don’t Brush Right After Eating Acidic Food

If you consume food or drinks high in acidity, such as carbonated beverages, it’s best to brush your teeth about 30 minutes later. Eating food containing acidic substances can change the mouth to an acidic environment, and the strong acid can corrode the thin film on the tooth surface. If you brush your teeth now, you will be brushing the tooth itself, which can erode them. It takes about 30 minutes for the acidic mouth to return to an alkaline state, and brushing your teeth now is best.

Don’t Eat Fruit After Brushing

There are small bumps on the tongue, which contain taste receptors called “taste buds.” When food enters the mouth, the taste molecules combine with the taste buds to taste the food. The surfactant in toothpaste dulls the sweet taste receptors of the taste buds and interferes with the bitter taste receptors. Because of this, if you eat fruit right after brushing, you will taste less sweetness and more bitterness.

Rinse Your Mouth 5-6 Times After Brushing

The synthetic surfactant left in the mouth from the toothpaste usually disappears naturally within 30 minutes due to saliva and food intake. However, if this surfactant is not rinsed well, it can cause dry mouth and create an environment conducive to bacterial growth. Therefore, it’s good to rinse your mouth thoroughly about 5-6 times after brushing.

Brush with a Toothbrush of Appropriate Size

It’s essential to brush with a toothbrush of appropriate size and bristles. A desirable toothbrush covers the length of 2-3 teeth and has about three rows of bristles on the brushing surface. An interdental toothbrush can also help remove food particles if you have gum disease or space between your teeth. Don’t think of throwing away your toothbrush as a waste, but a good rule of thumb is to replace it every three months.

What If You Fell Asleep Drunk?

Brushing your teeth after drinking is very important. The food stuck to your teeth can turn into bacterial plaque, which can harden into tartar and cause cracks in your gums. These bacteria can penetrate our bodies through these cracks and, through the accelerated blood flow caused by alcohol, move to the joints, kidneys, and heart, causing inflammation. This can eventually reach the heart and cause heart diseases such as endocarditis.

Be Careful If You Have Eaten Dalgona!

Dalgona is a type of caramel produced when baking soda and sugar are mixed and heated with fire. Consuming too much Dalgona can raise the acidity in the oral cavity and melt your teeth. The high acid content can prevent saliva from performing its role, allowing the bacteria in the plaque to produce acid quickly and leading to cavities. If there is a lingering sweetness in your mouth, the sugar can change your mouth to an acidic environment. Brushing your teeth in this state can stimulate your teeth, so it’s best to rinse your mouth with water and wait about 30 minutes before brushing.

Don’t Wet Your Toothbrush

Wetting your toothbrush and brushing your teeth is a no-no! The active ingredients in toothpaste would be diluted with water, reducing the effectiveness. Also, if you wet the brush too much, a lot of foam is produced, which makes you feel like you are brushing well even if you aren’t, provoking carelessness.

Never Use Salt Instead of Toothpaste

Using salt when you run out of toothpaste is not advisable. There is not enough research to prove that salt is effective in removing oral bacteria, and the grains of salt can also cause wounds on the gums. Brushing with salt after implant surgery can cause wounds in the surgical area and increase the risk of infection.

Beware of Toothpaste with Granules or Surfactants

If your toothpaste contains granules, you should be cautious. The granules in toothpaste are usually tiny, less than 1mm in diameter. But for patients with gum inflammation, these granules can get deeply embedded in the gums and need to be removed surgically. Also, for safety considerations, it’s better to avoid toothpaste containing surfactants.

What If Your Teeth Are Sensitive?

If you have sensitive teeth, the enamel surrounding the surface of the teeth has been peeled off, exposing the inner dentin. The periodontal nerves get stimulated through the dentinal tubules arranged on the dentin, and it causes this symptom. In this case, it’s good to use toothpaste that contains potassium chloride or potassium phosphate because these ingredients block the dentinal tubules. Also, it’s best not to use toothpaste that contains abrasives.

By. Shin Young Jeon