LETTERS: The National Water Services Commission stated that Malaysians consume an average of 210 litres of water per person per day, which is 27 per cent higher than the 165 litres per day recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
To avoid wastage, we must be aware of our consumption. Only about five to 10 per cent of water is used for drinking and cooking, and an additional 20 per cent is used for laundry and washing.
Surprisingly, half of the water is consumed in the bathroom and a major part of it is wasted due to inefficient water management in our daily routine.
Brushing teeth is a vital part of preventive dentistry, but that doesn't mean oral hygiene has to be an excuse for wasting water.
The following are simple tips to save water while brushing your teeth:
TURN off the faucet while brushing teeth. If you brush for two minutes with the faucet running, you are wasting 12 litres of water each time you brush. If each person in a four-person household brushes teeth twice a day, that's 100 litres of water wasted per day;
LIMIT your faucet water pressure. Intense water pressure is not necessary to dampen or rinse your toothbrush;
RINSE with a reusable cup. If you use your hands to cup water into your mouth for rinsing after brushing, running water spilling over your hands can go to waste. Save this water by using a reusable cup and turn off the faucet;
SKIP wetting your toothbrush before brushing. You may want to rinse your toothbrush out of habit, but the saliva in your mouth is sufficient to activate the toothpaste. Water may dilute the toothpaste, making it less effective. Get the most out of your toothpaste and save water by starting with a dry toothbrush;
SPIT, don't rinse your mouth after brushing. Though hard to believe, you can skip rinsing your mouth after brushing teeth, in actual fact, rinsing with water cuts down the efficiency of the fluoride from the toothpaste. Instead, use a mouthwash to gargle and then spit out the mouthwash;
AVOID brushing your teeth more than two times a day. Brushing three or more times a day, or even after every meal, can damage your gums and erode teeth enamel. Brushing for two minutes twice a day is sufficient to maintain good oral hygiene and save water;
CHECK plumbing and instal water-saving fixtures. On average, it has been reported that 35 per cent of water loss is due to pipe leakage. Check your sink to see if the faucet or piping underneath lets water escape when it runs. If you notice drips after turning off the tap, have the faucet repaired. Additionally, consider installing new faucets as modern faucets use half as much water as older ones; and,
SPREAD awareness. Sharing these simple tips with family and friends, especially the little ones, will make a positive impact on the environment and cause a chain effect of water conservation.
If every member in the household takes these steps daily, you will make a big difference by saving a large amount of water without even realising it. So, let's wake up and brush our teeth while saving water.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR RAMESH KUMARESAN
Deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs) AIMST University
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times