Burning calories with brushing as crazy as it sounds?
According to a report by Yahoo! Lifestyle, as many as six calories can be burned by brushing your teeth for two minutes.
The authors noted you can increase the ‘work-out’ by standing on one leg for the first minute of brushing and then switching to the other leg for the second minute, increasing your calorific burn to a whopping 26!
Clearly, brushing your teeth isn’t a very effective workout, but it’s certainly vital for your oral hygiene and general health.
If you want to practice great oral hygiene and protect your teeth from unwanted decay follow our top-ten-tips below!
1. Brush a MINIMUM of twice a day for two minutes each time, ideally first thing in the morning and last thing at night before you go to sleep. If you’re at all unsure about technique we’ll be happy to demonstrate good brushing techniques.
2. Use a fluoride toothpaste and don’t rinse the toothpaste out of your mouth after brushing.
3. In your imagination divide your mouth up into four quadrants and spend 30 seconds brushing each quadrant – some of the more advanced electric toothbrushes even measure this for you!
4. Remember most of your teeth have five sides, so try to brush evenly around the entire tooth; if you struggle with this it’s worth discussing your technique with your dentist or hygienist.
5. Remember to floss – if you’re not sure how, to speak to your dentist or hygienist at your next appointment.
6. Consider using a fluoride mouthwash, they’re a great way of ensuring fresh breath, and also reducing plaque acid, a key cause of dental decay.
7. Electric toothbrushes, used properly, are more effective than a manual toothbrush – if you’ve never used one before ask your hygienist to show you how to use it most effectively.
8. Try to avoid snacks and sugary drinks between meals. Many processed foods contain ‘hidden sugar’ – even foods we consider savoury like crisps, with some brands having up to 8 teaspoons of sugar per standard-sized packet.
9. Try one of the new chewing gums, which are designed to stimulate saliva and reduce the formation of plaque acid after a meal.
10. Drink more tea! Tea contains polyphenols, which suppress the growth of bacteria on teeth, adding milk to your teeth can increase the protective effects, but please try to avoid the sugar!
If you’ve got any questions about your oral health, feel free to get in touch!
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