Latest news with #toothbrushing
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Toothbrushing lessons to be held in more Cornwall schools
Thousands of children in Cornwall will benefit from expanded supervised toothbrushing sessions, health bosses have said. The Big Brush Club was initially offered to children living in areas of greatest tooth decay across the South West, but it will now be provided county-wide, said the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board. The aim of the programme is for every child aged three to five to brush their teeth twice daily. Dr Chris Reid, chief medical officer at the board, said: "Teaching good brushing routines from an early age helps reduce oral health inequalities among children." 'A noticeable improvement' The NHS-commissioned programme encourages better oral health and sees teachers delivering short, daily toothbrushing sessions for pupils, alongside lessons in self-care, healthy eating and sugar reduction. Chantelle McKernan, deputy headteacher at Bugle School near St Austell, which is participating in the scheme, said it had seen "a noticeable improvement" in pupils' understanding of good dental habits and the importance of daily brushing. Reducing dental decay According to a 2022 government study, almost one fifth of five-year-olds in the South West have tooth decay, despite it being largely preventable. Tooth extraction is also the most common reason for children aged between six and 10 being admitted to hospital, according to the Office for Health Improvement & Patel, a consultant in dental public health at NHS England, said: "The Big Brush Club is about supporting children and parents at an early stage to reduce sugar intake and create good habits at home that can last a lifetime."Dr Reid said: "It's great to see how supportive schools in Cornwall are of this forward-thinking, early intervention work." Supervised toothbrushing is recommended by the National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE), as an evidence-based intervention to reduce dental decay in children.
CNET
25-05-2025
- Health
- CNET
Should You Rinse After Brushing Your Teeth? Our Experts Say No
After you're finished brushing your teeth, you can go ahead and skip the rinse step. As it turns out, it could actually be detrimental to the health of those pearly whites. It might sound (and feel) a little odd, but going without a quick swish of water could improve the health of your teeth in general. According to Edmond Hewlett, a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association and professor at UCLA School of Dentistry, leaving the toothpaste in your mouth for a bit longer allows the fluoride to better protect against tooth decay and gum disease. So next time you brush your teeth, try resisting the urge to rinse right away. Instead, let the toothpaste linger in your mouth for a few extra moments, giving the fluoride more time to work its magic. Your teeth will thank you in the long run. Why you should stop rinsing with water after tooth brushing Fluoride is an important ingredient in toothpaste that helps make your tooth enamel harder and more resistant to acids that cause cavities. Hewlett says it's the most well-established effective ingredient in toothpaste, so make sure yours has fluoride. When brushing your teeth, you clean any film and bacteria from food and sugary drinks. When you go a step further and skip rinsing, you're leaving the fluoride from the toothpaste in your mouth for a longer time, giving you a better effect from the fluoride. Wait at least 15 minutes after brushing to drink water. After brushing your teeth, Hewlett explains, your saliva will clear the toothpaste out so you won't taste it all day. What if you've always rinsed after tooth brushing? If you're just learning about this tip, you may think you've been undoing all your hard work of brushing every day. That's not true. Hewlett says as long as you brush the standard twice a day for 2 minutes each time, the fluoride will remain in your mouth to help protect your teeth. You're still doing what you need to do to have good oral health and protect your teeth. Not rinsing is just an extra step to help the fluoride be even more effective. "When you measure a person's fluoride levels in saliva, if they don't rinse, there's more fluoride," Hewlett said. However, it won't be a waste of your time if you rinse. He said research is still being done to determine the difference it makes in the long term to prevent cavities. Sarah Mitroff/CNET Are there risks to not rinsing after brushing your teeth? According to Dr. Marcus Brian Ward, dentist and founder of Eastern Pines Dental in Greenville, North Carolina, there are no common side effects associated with not rinsing after brushing your teeth. 'Over-the-counter toothpastes have about 1,000 ppm concentrated fluoride -- not enough to cause harm in adults,' he explains. He recommends avoiding off-label use of fluoride because there can be atypical side effects in those circumstances. Some side effects can include: fluorosis, gastrointestinal issues and neurological symptoms. Dr. Naomi Goldman, a restorative and cosmetic dentist at Levy Goldman Dentistry, recommends being mindful of how much toothpaste you use when you brush and limiting it to three times a day. 'You should only be using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your brush during brushing.' For children and toddlers, the same applies but Goldman advises only using a grain of rice-sized amount of toothpaste. Your own dental health also plays a role There are different risk levels for getting cavities per person, Hewlett said. "If you typically don't get cavities, then you should continue using fluoride toothpaste. The decision to rinse or not to rinse after brushing probably won't make a difference." On the other hand, for those who struggle with cavities, not rinsing is probably a better decision. Additionally, you should get help from your dentist to find out why you're getting cavities regularly. For instance, it could be your eating habits, snacking on sugary foods or not brushing your teeth regularly. If you're at higher risk for cavities, you should do everything you can to help prevent them. What about using mouthwash after brushing? Most mouthwashes contain less fluoride than toothpaste, so rinsing with mouthwash right after brushing can wash away the concentrated fluoride from your teeth. Instead, use mouthwash at another time, like after lunch or coffee. More tips for improving your tooth brushing Here are some additional tips for keeping your oral health up to par. Always use a soft bristle toothbrush and never medium or hard. Hewlett said anything but soft can increase the risk of gum recession. It doesn't matter if you floss before or after brushing your teeth, as long as you floss once daily to remove plaque and stuck food. You don't have to aggressively brush your teeth to get them clean. While scrubbing your dishes with extra force may make them extra clean, it's unnecessary for your teeth and can lead to gum recession. Gently brush along the gum line with a soft bristle brush to help prevent gum disease. Always consult with your dentist for personalized advice. They understand what your oral health profile looks like. Dental FAQS How long should you wait before rinsing after brushing? Goldman recommends waiting 30 minutes after brushing to allow the fluoride in the toothpaste to have full cavity prevention effects on the teeth. Ward adds that your natural saliva will vacate much of the product in a few minutes after brushing. Do dentists recommend rinsing after brushing? Dentists' opinions vary on rinsing after brushing. Ward says most dentists are just happy if most people are willing to brush their teeth. 'If you have good oral hygiene, brushing and flossing is more important than whether you rinse or not after brushing,' he says. On the other hand, if you have excessive tooth decay, Ward recommends waiting at least 10 minutes before rinsing. Either way, consult with your dentist first to come up with an appropriate hygiene protocol for your situation and needs.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast? Scientists finally settle the debate - so, do you agree with their advice?
It's something that most of us do twice a day without fail. But when it comes to brushing your teeth in the morning, should you do it before or after breakfast? People who brush before their breakfast tend to argue that this helps them to start their day feeling clean and fresh. But those who prefer brushing after breakfast maintain that there's no point brushing first thing, only to then spoil their clean mouth with toast or cereal. So, what does the science say? According to Colgate, the answer is simple - it's better to brush before breakfast. 'You don't want to drink your morning orange juice with the taste of minty toothpaste in your mouth,' the company explained. 'However, it may be more beneficial for your teeth to do just that!' From a young age, we're taught that brushing our teeth twice a day is vital for avoiding gum disease, tooth decay, and cracked teeth. The second brush of the day is done by most people just before bedtime. But the timing of the first brush remains a contentious issue. According to Colgate, you should always brush your teeth first thing in the morning, before you tuck in to your breakfast. 'When you wake up you may notice "morning breath" which is a buildup of bacteria that multiplies in your mouth overnight,' the company explained. 'Brushing your teeth before eating will get rid of this bacteria and kickstart the production of saliva, while the fluoride in your toothpaste will create a protective barrier over the surface of your teeth.' Waiting to brush your teeth until you've eaten can actually do more harm than good, Colgate warns. 'By immediately brushing teeth after eating, you might rationalise that you'll get rid of bacteria before they attack your tooth enamel,' it said. 'However, this can end up being more damaging to your teeth. 'If you've consumed anything acidic, you should avoid brushing your teeth for at least an hour. 'Foods containing citric acid, like oranges, grapefruit and lemons, can weaken tooth enamel. 'Brushing your teeth too soon after eating them can further damage the enamel in its already weakened state.' In terms of the act itself, Colgate advises using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and brushing for two minutes using short, circular motions, before spitting out any excess toothpaste. It also suggests using a tongue scraper, dental floss or interdental brushes to clean between teeth, and swishing your mouth out with an alcohol-free mouthwash. 'To sum up, brushing your teeth when you wake up is better than brushing after breakfast as it protects your tooth enamel more,' Colgate concluded. 'If you have to brush your teeth after breakfast, wait for 30-60 minutes after eating. 'Whether you brush teeth before or after breakfast, both options are better than not brushing at all!' The advice comes shortly after a scientist settled the debate on whether or not you should shower in the morning or at night. According to Primrose Freestone, a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, the answer is clear. And it's bad news for fans of evening showers. 'As a microbiologist, I am a day shower advocate,' Dr Freestone explained in an article for The Conversation.
