health

Japanese dentistry association says don’t hesitate to brush right after you eat

3 Comments
By RocketNews24

That might not sound like a shocking headline for those of us whom have been taught to brush right after every meal from an early age. But recent reports from the past decade have been suggesting something different.

Articles from the Mayo Clinic, Colgate, and New York Times among others have been advocating waiting 30 to 60 minutes after eating to brush. Apparently the delayed brushing movement has gotten so strong that parents Japan are beginning to complain to schools making children brush their teeth right after lunch time.

So the Japan Society of Pediatric Dentistry (JSPD) issued a statement telling everyone to not believe the hype and that it’s actually in your best interest to brush right away.

Research

According to the JSPD this notion came from a study that tested the effects of acidic food on dentin, a substance in our teeth. They didn’t say which study it was specifically, but other reports link back to an experiment conducted by Georg August University in Germany in 2003.

In the study scientists tested samples of dentin that have been submerged in acidic Sprite Light for 90 seconds. They then embedded the samples in people’s mouths and had the subjects brush their teeth at different times from 10 to 60 minutes afterward.

After 21 days of this, the dentin samples of people who brushed their teeth in less than 30 minutes from Sprite contact experienced significant erosion because of the added friction from the brush. Therefore it’s advisable to wait about half an hour after eating to brush, right?

Wrong, according to the JSPD.

Reality

This is not to say there’s anything wrong with the Georg August University’s findings. It’s just that it doesn’t really apply to regular life. First, the JSPD points out that the study was testing the effects of acid directly on dentin, which is the middle layer of a person’s tooth and protected by the enamel and saliva.

Of course enamel is not impervious to acid either and the neutralizing effects of saliva are not perfect, but they do act as a sufficient defense against reasonably acidic foods and drinks. So even with the combined effect of scrubbing with a brush you probably won’t get much penetration.

Next, there’s the issue of “erosion” as mentioned in the study. This is different from the type of acid attack that causes cavities. As previously mentioned taking a swig of Sprite will splash a layer of acid onto your pearly-whites but must also contend with your body’s natural defenses. These not only weaken the acid in the food but also help withstand the physical force of brushing.

On the other hand, the plaque that builds up from food particles poses a much greater threat. Plaque contains decaying carbohydrates which in turn contain bacteria that produce acid. This is like having a tiny acid factory in direct contact with your teeth and protected from the outside by plaque.

While both situations are harmful to your teeth, the plaque and its acid-making bacteria are by far the greater threat. Following that logic, the best way to deal with plaque is to brush food matter away as soon as possible after eating. Waiting only gives plaque more opportunity to form.

The JSPD are confident in their advice but also vow to conduct further studies on the matter. In the meantime, they urge everyone young and old, to not hesitate to brush even after consuming acidic drinks or foods. Sources: Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry, Mayo Clinic, The New York Times, Colgate Oral and Dental Health Resource Center

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Future Alert: In 2015 you’ll be able to use your smartphone to brush your teeth, kind of -- Toothbrush Hero! Candy Maker Plans to Fight Cavities through Video Games -- Denta-Pride’s Electronic Tooth Brushing Coach uses Bluetooth to Make Teeth White, But May Go On A Power Trip

© Japan Today

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3 Comments
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Yes. I will follow this advice from the Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry, because I really, really want to have teeth like the average Japanese person!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Brushing you teeth right after you eating is fine but most people don't spend nearly enough time brushing their teeth. You need to spend two or three minutes and make it a point to look in the mirror while you brush your teeth and see where the brush is actually going. It's easy to miss the area right at the gum line, which is the most important part. That's where plague, tartar and bacteria can build up, which cause the gums to become inflamed and infected. Also keep a close eye on the back molars. Flossing gets between your teeth where toothbrushes can't reach. Bacteria gets stuck there, feed off the sugar from food particles, colonize and produce chemicals that eat away at enamel and can work into the soft layer of dentine underneath. In the end rinsing afterward is the key step to make sure that bacteria leave your mouth for good. So swish with a germ-killing alcohol-free mouthwash or use a fluoride rinse to strengthen and fortify tooth enamel and prevent cavities.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Fact 1 - Acidic foods do weaken the enamel, therefore brushing immediately after eating does damage the enamel more than waiting 20 or 30 minutes for saliva to neutralise the acid.

Fact 2 - The bacteria that cause plaque actually grow really slowly, 4 to 9 days depending on conditions. Waiting for 20 to 30 minutes will NOT give it enough time to do any damage to the teeth.

Therefore - The BEST course of action is to wait 20 or 30 minutes then brush your teeth.

In closing it is important to consider that this is a newspaper article and the JSPD may well be being misquoted or misunderstood. They probably said something along the lines of, "If its a choice between brushing straight away or waiting and maybe forgetting to brush, then please brush straight away", and I'd agree with that advice.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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