LETTERS: Toothpastes are a versatile remedy to prevent dental diseases and maintain a healthy mouth.
They fight disease-causing bacteria not just on the teeth but also on the tongue, gums and cheeks, helping keep the whole mouth healthy.
Dental plaque, which houses millions of bacteria, is the main culprit behind the two main dental diseases — tooth cavities and gum disease.
They afflict almost nine in 10 Malaysian adults, based on the 2010 National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey.
Toothpastes, besides preventing caries, also reduce plaque formation and its mineralisation into hard calculus, contain antiseptic agents to continuously fight disease-causing bacteria in the mouth, as well as anti-hypersensitive action to reduce tooth sensitivity rapidly by sealing exposed dentinal tubules.
To encourage tooth brushing by children and adults alike, new flavours that leave the mouth feeling clean and fresh have been developed.
Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy mouth.
First, use a fluoridated toothpaste or a slightly more expensive paste that has all the above additional benefits.
Fluoride through hundreds of robust studies conducted globally has been proven to be a safe and powerful anti-caries agent. For young children below 6, low-dose children's toothpastes can be used.
Brushing should be under the supervision of parents. Ensure children do not swallow too much as the taste of children's toothpastes can be enticing.
Second, if we can afford it, go for an electric toothbrush which gives a more thorough cleanse as well as refreshing brushing experience.
Electric brushes have an in-built timer for optimal brushing time of two minutes. Besides, the small head can reach the difficult to reach back parts of the mouth effortlessly.
Point the bristles at the gum margins as you move the brush, as that's where plaque accumulates.
Third, spend more time brushing before sleep because it's while we're asleep that salivary flow is negligible and unable to buffer the detrimental effects of plaque on both the teeth and gums.
Fourth, it's good to brush after breakfast since that's when food we eat begin to produce acids that damage teeth, as many people suffice with just brushing before breakfast.
Fifth, use any branded mouth rinse with our brushing routine at least once a day as various studies have proven a synergistic benefit from both these disease-preventing agents.
Finally, a common-sense tip — the longer the toothpaste remains in contact with our oral tissues the better, so no need to rinse out toothpastes immediately after brushing.
Spit out the excess and allow the rest to be in the mouth as long as possible.
Toothpastes are a ubiquitous, versatile and easily used tool to control and prevent the majority of oral problems.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR JEGARAJAN PILLAY
DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST
DEPUTY DEAN (MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH)
FACULTY OF DENTISTRY, AIMST UNIVERSITY
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times