Don't Be Careless! Pay Attention to the Right Time for Brushing Teeth!
27 Jul 2023 14:39 by Rizki Aprilia
Proper Timing for Brushing Teeth
Brushing teeth is a routine that is commonly done every day. However, not everyone pays attention to the correct way to brush their teeth. Yet, brushing teeth correctly can greatly benefit oral health. It can result in fresher breath and increased confidence in our daily activities.
However, it's not just about the method; brushing teeth correctly also involves the right timing. When is the appropriate time to brush teeth? S1 Dentistry lecturer at IIK Bhakta, Dr. Herrina Firmantini SpPerio, provides the following detailed explanation.
The Right Time to Brush Teeth
In a day, everyone is recommended to brush their teeth twice. First, in the morning after breakfast, and second, in the evening before going to bed. It is advised to brush teeth in the morning after breakfast to clean any food residues left after breakfast.
Why not after waking up? Because we are already advised to brush our teeth before going to bed at night. As we do not consume any food or drinks during sleep, there are no food residues to be cleaned in the morning when we wake up. You just need to rinse your mouth first and wait until after breakfast to brush your teeth.
"There are recommended and restricted times for brushing teeth," says Herrina. Brushing teeth should not be done immediately after eating. Why is that? After eating, the condition of the oral cavity becomes acidic. If combined with toothpaste, the acidity level in the mouth will increase excessively. This can lead to easy erosion of tooth enamel. "So, wait for 30 minutes after eating until the condition of the oral cavity returns to neutral," emphasizes the woman wearing a headscarf. Paying attention to the right timing for brushing teeth is important to maintain your dental health.
Proper Way of Brushing Teeth
In addition to discussing the right timing, Herrina also provides tips for brushing teeth correctly, as follows:
- Use a toothbrush with a tapered end to easily reach the backmost teeth.
- Brush teeth evenly, covering the gum surface to the enamel surface.
- The brushing motion can start from the front of the mouth. For the lower teeth, the brush should move from the gum surface upwards, towards the lower enamel surface. Conversely, for the upper teeth, the brushing motion should start from the gum surface downwards, towards the upper enamel surface. Repeat this motion several times.
- For the inner surfaces, the toothbrush should be directed downwards (for lower teeth) and upwards when brushing the upper inner teeth.
- Brushing teeth should ideally last for 2 minutes.
- For users with braces, brushing should be done with extra caution.
By paying attention to the right timing and the proper way of brushing teeth, dental and oral health can be well-maintained. Healthy teeth lead to a confident smile. You can also watch this review on the official IIK Bhakta Wiyata YouTube channel here.
