A British woman was disgusted to discover a dental hygiene mistake most Australians make – and it could cause life-long health issues.
The Perth woman asked online if it was common for Australians to only brush their teeth once a day – because after several years of living Down Under, she hadn’t seen many people too preoccupied with oral hygiene.
‘I’m not Australian but have lived here for a few years and with different people. I’ve noticed that a few of the people (if not all) I’ve lived with have only brushed their teeth once a day. Is that common in Australia?’ she asked in a post.
‘Where I’m from, that would certainly be frowned upon, but perhaps that’s also because I socialise with different people here.’
Dentists recommend brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste, and switching out your toothbrush every three months.
According to Healthdirect cavities, gum disease, bad breath, tooth loss, diabetes, premature labour, oral cancer and a range of chronic diseases are all linked to poor oral health.
Many were shocked by the woman’s accusation and defended their routines.
‘Morning and night. I cannot stand the furry teeth feel!’ one said.
‘I brush twice a day. Morning and before bed. Every partner and overnight guest I’ve had has done the same,’ another said.
‘Twice a day, sometimes thrice. An extra time before going out somewhere special, like drinks with friends or on a date, or sometimes just randomly,’ a man wrote.
‘Always twice a day or I’d feel gross. I try to floss daily but sometimes I’m lazy with that,’ a woman added.
But some claimed it wasn’t necessary to brush their teeth more than once,
‘My dental hygienist told me that once a day is sufficient because it takes more than 24 hours for the bacteria to build up,’ a man shared. ‘I don’t consume a lot of sugar, when I do get a build-up/film around my teeth from eating sugar, I will brush it away.’
‘Brushing twice a day is mainly for fresh breath smell and getting rid of dirty teeth feeling. Most plaque takes two days to harden into tartar,’ another said.
‘I only brush once a day, because I’m lazy. No dental hygiene issues thus far,’ a man wrote.
