Is More Brushing Always Better? The Doctor Reveals the Truth: You Might Be Brushing Your Teeth Wrong!

Is More Brushing Always Better? The Doctor Reveals the Truth: You Might Be Brushing Your Teeth Wrong!"If you don't change your brushing habits, you'll lose all your teeth eventually," said Dr. Lao Liutou, with a stern look on his face, addressing Sun Jian Guo

Is More Brushing Always Better? The Doctor Reveals the Truth: You Might Be Brushing Your Teeth Wrong!

"If you don't change your brushing habits, you'll lose all your teeth eventually," said Dr. Lao Liutou, with a stern look on his face, addressing Sun Jian Guo. Sun Jian Guo, in his forties, was an accountant. He was meticulous in his work and precise in his calculations, but when it came to health, he had made a serious mistake.

Sun Jian Guo's family was busy with a spring cleaning, sorting through old belongings. He came across a yellowed health magazine and flipped through it. His eyes fell upon the bold headline "Dental Health is the First Line of Defense for Overall Health." It sparked his curiosity.

"Could this be the reason why I've been losing my teeth lately?" Sun Jian Guo muttered to himself, recalling a conversation he had with Dr. Lao Liutou during his recent dental visit. Lao Liutou was a renowned local dentist, known for treating countless cases of "rat teeth" (cavities) and witnessing firsthand how patients' teeth deteriorated over time, eventually leading to dentures. That day, Sun Jian Guo complained about his loose teeth, particularly his molars, which ached when he bit into anything hard. After examining him, Dr. Lao Liutou said expressionlessly, "You only brush your teeth once a day? If you keep this up, you won't just lose your teeth, you'll lose your roots too!"

Sun Jian Guo was taken aback. "Brushing once a day isn't enough? Does that mean all my brushing has been in vain?" Dr. Lao Liutou then pulled out a dental examination report and explained, "Let me break it down for you. Look, there's a lot of bacteria buildup on your teeth. This didn't happen overnight. You need to brush twice a day and use the correct technique to effectively reduce these bacteria and prevent gum disease, cavities, and other problems. Imagine only washing one sock every day and leaving the other dirty. Eventually, problems will arise."

Sun Jian Guo pondered for a moment but still felt a bit skeptical. "But I've always thought brushing morning and night was the same. What's the big deal?" The doctor chuckled, "You've been misled by the 'three meals a day' routine. The key to brushing is to remove plaque, and plaque accumulates throughout the day. After brushing in the morning, there are still food particles and bacteria in your mouth. By evening, these bacteria have multiplied and formed a significant amount of plaque. If you only brush in the morning, you're essentially leaving the previous day's plaque build-up to fester, leading to more and more problems."

"But don't worry too much," said Dr. Lao Liutou, noticing Sun Jian Guo's downcast expression. "Let me tell you about a patient, a woman named Wang. She had a similar situation to yours. She was busy with work and only brushed in the morning. When she came to me, her teeth were riddled with cavities, and her gums were receding. I created a strict brushing plan for hertwice a day, morning and night, for at least two minutes each time, and regular flossing. Can you guess what happened? After six months, her dental health significantly improved, and she hasn't had any cavities since."

Sun Jian Guo listened intently, the magazine still clutched in his hand. He looked up at the ceiling, suddenly thinking, "Does brushing more often guarantee that my teeth won't have any problems?" Dr. Lao Liutou waved his hand and patiently explained, "Frequency is important, but the brushing technique and duration are equally crucial. If you just focus on the number of times you brush but ignore the proper technique, like brushing too quickly or too hard, you can damage your gums and teeth. Remember, hard bristles and prolonged brushing can wear away enamel and cause gum bleeding. Also, some people brush immediately after meals. This isn't recommended either, especially after acidic foods. Your teeth are in an acidic state after these foods, and brushing immediately can lead to decalcification."

Sun Jian Guo nodded, realizing he had a rather simplistic understanding of brushing. The importance of brushing was widely recognized in the medical community. Studies have shown that brushing twice a day, for at least two minutes each time, can reduce the incidence of cavities and gum disease by about 40%. However, if you neglect the quality of brushing, like using excessive force or incorrect technique, even brushing three times a day can damage your teeth. This is especially true for older adults, whose gums and teeth have a weakened ability to self-repair. Poor brushing habits can exacerbate tooth wear, expose tooth roots, and ultimately lead to loose teeth.

A thought suddenly struck Sun Jian Guo, "Does using mouthwash make brushing obsolete?" "Mouthwash? That can't fully replace brushing," Dr. Lao Liutou seemed to read his mind. "Mouthwash primarily freshens breath and disinfects, but it can't remove plaque thoroughly. It's a supplementary tool, not the main weapon. Think of it like taking a shower. You can spray perfume to make yourself smell nice, but for true cleanliness, you need to scrub properly. Brushing and mouthwash each have their roles. Using them together is most effective, but they can't replace each other."

Sun Jian Guo had a lightbulb moment, as if he finally understood something. Dr. Lao Liutou picked up another dental health chart and pointed to it, "See, this is a healthy tooth. The enamel is intact, and the gums are tight. Now look at this one. This is the result of poor brushing habits. The enamel is thin, the gums are receding, the tooth root is exposed, and even the dentin is eroding. If you want to avoid this, you need to start now: brush twice a day, morning and night, learn the correct technique, and get regular dental checkups."

Sun Jian Guo sighed and nodded silently, thinking that he needed to break this bad habit immediately. After all, his teeth were his "second face." But just as he was reflecting on this, another question popped into his head, "If brushing is so important, should we keep doing it for the rest of our lives? Are our teeth completely doomed if we skip brushing?"

Dr. Lao Liutou smiled, as if he had anticipated this question. "Actually, our ancestors were able to maintain good dental health in the days before toothbrushes, thanks to their diet. They consumed whole grains, nuts, vegetables, and other natural foods, which were high in fiber and low in sugar. The chewing process naturally cleaned their teeth. However, in modern society, we eat a lot of sugary and fatty foods, along with soft foods. Chewing is reduced, creating opportunities for bacteria to thrive. Therefore, brushing has become even more crucial in modern times."

Sun Jian Guo pondered, "So, if I adjust my diet, could I brush less often?" Dr. Lao Liutou nodded, "Theoretically, that's true, but you'd need the willpower and time to maintain that dietary approach. In reality, few people can resist the temptations of modern food completely. Therefore, I still recommend brushing twice a day and focusing on the quality of brushing."

Finally, Sun Jian Guo understood. It wasn't just about brushing, it was about brushing well, twice a day, to maintain oral health. Just like accounting, every entry in the ledger needed to be carefully checked, no room for mistakes, to ensure the financial stability of a business.

However, Sun Jian Guo didn't stop there. He asked, "Doctor, if someone already has cavities, is brushing still helpful? Is the only solution fillings?"

Dr. Lao Liutou's face turned serious. "If you have cavities, you need treatment, of course, but brushing is still essential. Brushing prevents cavities from further deterioration and avoids the spread of infection to other healthy teeth. Many people assume that they're good to go after getting fillings, but filling is just addressing a localized problem. Overall oral hygiene requires daily brushing and flossing. Remember, cavities are just a symptom of a larger issue, bacterial imbalance in the mouth."

After listening to all these suggestions, another question arose in Sun Jian Guo's mind, "How should we protect children's teeth? Do they need to brush as frequently?"

"Children's dental care requires extra attention, especially for baby teeth. Children's teeth are still developing, their enamel is thinner, and they're more susceptible to bacteria. So they need to brush twice a day, and parents need to teach them the correct technique. It's crucial to instill good oral hygiene habits from an early age. Studies have shown that if good brushing habits are established from childhood, the risk of cavities in adulthood can be reduced by 30% to 50%."

Sun Jian Guo nodded, understanding a new truth: brushing wasn't just for adults; it was a healthy habit to cultivate from a young age.

What are your thoughts on this? Let's discuss in the comments section!

References

[1] Hu Xiaohong. Do You Really Know How to Brush Your Teeth? [N]. Medicine & Health Care Newspaper, 2024-04-3

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