Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Ease up on the tea, spit, and go electric – the definitive guide to world-beating teeth

Ease up on the tea, spit, and go electric – the definitive guide to world-beating teeth

British gnashers are an international laughing stock. Here’s how to stop the rot

Britain has long had a global reputation for bad teeth, and scientists now say we may have the worst in the nation’s history. After examining the teeth of 17th-century skulls, researchers from Queen Mary University of London found fewer missing teeth and less decay than today, blaming widespread sugar consumption and lack of basic hygiene for the sorry state of our teeth. Here, then, is an ultimate guide to optimum dental care.

How should you clean your teeth?

The steadfast rule of brushing is to stick to the two-minute rule using a good fluoride toothpaste. “The optimum level of fluoride for anyone aged three and over is between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm, so it doesn’t matter too much which brand you’re using as long as it has that level of fluoride,” says Karen Coates, a dental adviser at the Oral Health Foundation. “There’s no need to wet the brush. With a pea-sized amount of toothpaste – you don’t have to fill the whole brush – use small, circular movements concentrating on every area of the teeth.”

Coates adds: “There’s a fine line between brushing effectively and overbrushing. There is evidence that electric brushes give a better clean than a manual, and also have the benefit of a timer (so you’re more likely to brush for two minutes) and a pressure sensor (so you can’t press too hard). Overbrushing can damage the teeth and gums, and can cause recession.”


Spit or rinse?

The consensus is: spit, don’t rinse. “Once you’ve brushed your teeth, just spit out the excess, but don’t rinse your mouth, as you’d just be rinsing out all that fluoride you’ve just put on,” says Coates. “The residual bits of fluoride will stay on the teeth for about 30 minutes after brushing.”


What should you use?

Damien Walmsley, a scientific adviser for the British Dental Association, recommends using a medium-sized toothbrush that can get to hard-to-reach places at the back of the mouth. Brushing can clean the sides, the inside and the biting surface, but a toothbrush alone will only clean about 60% of the teeth, so it’s best to use interdental brushes or floss to clean in between your teeth once a day.


What about mouthwash?

“Mouthwash is not a substitute for brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste,” says Walmsley. “It only has a small effect in terms of freshening your breath and having a nice taste.” Coates adds that rinsing with mouthwash straight after brushing the teeth is counterproductive as it removes the fluoride. “If you’re going to use mouthwash, do this at a different time to brushing your teeth because one will counteract the other,” she says. “Rinse after lunch, maybe, as that will neutralise the acid produced when you eat or drink anything. Mouthwash isn’t necessary unless it’s been prescribed by your dentist, but most people use it for cosmetic reasons.”


When should you clean your teeth?

Teeth are most vulnerable straight after food or drink. “When we eat or drink, any sugars lower the pH level in the mouth, making it acidic. This is what causes dental decay,” says Coates. “If you brush your teeth too soon [after eating], you could loosen microscopic amounts of loosened enamel from the acid attack. It takes about an hour for that to neutralise.” So, you shouldn’t brush your teeth for at least an hour after eating or drinking anything. “It’s recommended to brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day,” says Coates. “Most people will do this in the morning, although this should be at least 30 minutes before having food or drink or about an hour after.”


Should you get braces?

“The NHS criteria for orthodontics is tight so only the worst cases tend to be corrected – it comes down to function rather than appearance,” says Coates. “This means you may reach adulthood and become unhappy with the position of the teeth. The option then is to go private, if you can afford it. You can also go private to get braces for your child if they don’t meet the criteria.”

How do you counter staining?

Highly coloured food that contains tannins such as tea, coffee, red wine, and some curries (not to mention smoking) can stain the teeth. “If you are going to have something sugary or acidic, it’s better to have it as part of mealtime, as it’s not the amount you have; it’s the frequency,” says Coates. “If you’re snacking or sipping something sugary, for example, throughout the day, your teeth will potentially be under an acid attack all day. So if you do need to eat or drink between meals, you’re better off drinking water or milk and snacking on nuts, seeds, rice cakes, breadsticks, cheese, vegetables, etc, which are a much safer pH for the teeth.” As well as regular visits to the dentist, a whitening toothpaste can help to keep the staining down.

Should you whiten your teeth?

Coates explains that at home, you are not going to be able to do much other than removing staining by using a whitening toothpaste, for instance. “The legal limit for hydrogen peroxide in a product is 0.1%, which isn’t high enough to make a difference to the shade of your teeth. Professional treatment with a dentist is the only legal and reliable route to safe, lasting teeth whitening.” Walmsley also warns that “fad” whitening treatments can sometimes be abrasive and actually damage the teeth.


How often should you see your dentist?

We’re often told to go to the dentist twice a year, but is this really necessary for everyone? “It’s only by going to see your dentist that you can determine how often you need to see them,” says Walmsley. “Depending on the state of your teeth, they will decide if you need to see them on a regular basis or have a more personalised plan.”

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
×