Don't Brush Your Teeth! These Are The Impacts And Errors That Are Still Often Done

JAKARTA - Brushing teeth regularly does not necessarily guarantee the health of teeth and mouth if done in the wrong way.

Random movements, excessive pressure, to too short a brush duration can cause various problems, ranging from plaque buildup, gum inflammation, dental email abrasion, to the lack of maximum cleaning between teeth.

Even in the long term, the habit of brushing the wrong teeth can speed up tooth damage or cause systemic problems due to infection from the oral cavity.

Responding to this issue, the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Dental Association (PB-PDGI), Usman Sumantri, revealed that there are still many Indonesians who do not understand the right teething technique.

"Many brush their teeth just as long as they rub without paying attention to their direction. In fact, there is a correct brush technique according to the guidelines," he said at a press conference in Jakarta, as quoted by ANTARA.

He explained that the most common error was brushing teeth in random and systematic movements. As a result, food residue or plaque can still be left between teeth and gums. This is exacerbated by the fact from the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) which shows that although 94.7 percent of Indonesians brush their teeth every day, only 2.8 percent do it with the right technique.

Usman recommends a gear brush technique starting from the lower left side, moving forward, then to the right, and continuing to the inside until the entire surface of the teeth is well tied. In addition to the right technique, he also reminded the importance of using toothpaste that contains fluoride to prevent cavities and strengthen dental email.

The movement of teeth in Indonesia generally contains fluoride. But the main thing is not the brand, but the way we brush it, "added Usman.

Another mistake, which according to him, is that it is often found in the community, which is the habit of using a toothbrush alternately in one family. This practice, he said, is very risky to transmit disease, especially those transmitted through saliva such as hepatitis.

Virus such as hepatitis is very contagious. Not to mention other infectious diseases that can also be spread through mutual brushes," he said.

He emphasized the importance of dental health education from an early age. In this case, cross-professional collaboration such as between dentists, midwives, and nurses is needed to monitor the health of the child's mouth from a baby.

"Since the first teeth grow at the age of 6 or 7 months, there must be guidance on dental care so that their growth is optimal and career-free. Cross-health cooperation is needed so that this education reaches all levels of society," concluded Usman.