Brushing is one of the most neglected things of our day, even though we begin our mornings and end our nights with it on the regular.
Here are some important facts everyone should know about brushing their teeth.
1. People Brushed Before Bristled Toothbrushes Were Invented
Ancient Egyptians used twigs and leave to make crude toothbrushes for their teeth. Indians, Romans, and Greeks also used twigs with frayed ends that acted as bristles to target the spaces between teeth.
2. First Mass-Produced Toothbrush Was Invented In A Prison
William Addis from England, while serving a prison sentence wanted to change the old ways of brushing which included using a rag with soot and salt to be rubbed on the teeth.
He procured pig bristles from the guards, made holes in animal bones and passed the bristles through, and sealed them with glue. After his release from prison, he mass-produced this invention and became extremely rich.
3. Softer The Better
Soft brushes are better for your teeth and gums compared to hard bristles. Even though hard bristle brushes may give the impression of a cleaner feel, soft bristle brushes allow for a better technique and don’t hamper tooth sensitivity and structure.
Hard bristle brushes also cause a lot of chipping and can hurt your gums.
4. Spend More Time Brushing
A good 2-3 minutes of brushing time is recommended by most doctors. However, most people only spend 45-70 seconds brushing.
The more time you spend on your oral hygiene the better the results will be.
5. Dental Decay Is Higher At Night
Ideally one should brush twice a day. In the morning and once before bed at night.
Brushing at night is important because the dental decay rate is higher. The amount of food that was consumed all day now tends to react with the enamel and may cause dental plaque.
During the day, our tongue and saliva ensure that the bacteria in our mouth do not accumulate and cause decay.
6. Brush Before Eating
It is better to brush before eating or at least wait 30 mins after eating to brush as the tooth enamel gets weakened with the acids present in the food making it vulnerable to damage while brushing.
Waiting before brushing after you’ve eaten will allow the tooth enamel to harden again.
7. Brushing Is Not Enough To Remove Bad Breath
Cleaning your tongue alongside brushing is an essential part of ensuring fresh breath. When your tongue starts to get white or yellow, it means bacteria have built up and your tongue needs a cleaning.
A Lot of brushes come with built-in tongue scrapers that you can use to make sure your brushing doesn’t go to waste.
Further, to avoid food getting stuck between your teeth causing bad breath, flossing should also be incorporated into your routine. It will also improve overall gum health.
8. Your Toothbrush Contains Bacteria
Your brush is not a magical bacteria-free tool. Every time you brush residual bacteria is left on it.
Therefore, it is crucial to clean your brush regularly. Make sure it is kept upright to let the water flow. Let the brush air dry after use.
It is also recommended to maintain distance between the toilet bowl and where you keep your brush in order to prevent any air-borne bacteria from settling onto your brush.
If there are multiple brushes in the household, avoid keeping them lose to avoid cross-contamination
9. You Don’t Have To Buy Entire Toothbrushes Again
Plastic toothbrushes add about 50 million pounds of waste to landfills every year. Not only are they abrasives for your teeth but they are also harmful to the environment which is why there is a shift in sustainable brushes made out of bamboo and natural fiber.
You can contribute to the cause of sustainability simply by buying organic brushes or by stalking up on clever and economical solutions like replacement brush heads from Smile Brilliant, a leading producer of oral healthcare products.
These replacement heads can limit how many new brushes you buy and make it convenient for you to anytime get a new top.
Conclusion
Brushing might seem like a small task but is actually extremely important for your oral health and physical health overall.
Bad oral hygiene can cause your gums to bleed and the bacterial infection can gradually enter your bloodstream affecting other body parts, like the heart. Sharing brushes can also contribute to health problems because of transmissible bacteria.
We hope these facts will make you more aware and help you stick to a strict brushing routine.
