World Oral Health Day Quiz: 7 Top Mythbusters
World Oral Health Day Quiz: 7 Top Mythbusters
March 20th marks World Oral Health Day (WOHD) #WorldOralHealthDay and this year’s theme is ‘be proud of your mouth’. To help you be mouth-proud on WOHD and beyond, take our myth-busting quiz to see how savvy you are about oral healthcare. Give yourself a point for every myth you knew!
Myth 1: You must brush your teeth after breakfast.
This is a super common myth! The best time to brush is right before bed, and we’d recommend brushing your teeth before breakfast, not after, to avoid brushing the acids from the foods into your teeth. The toothpaste also provides a protective barrier to food. Also, make sure you brush all the surfaces (inside, outside, and chewing surface) of all your teeth, which should take about 2 minutes.
[1 point!]
Myth 2: Tongue scrapers are only for bad breath.
Okay, this is kind of a trick question! A tongue scraper eliminates excessive oral bacteria AND freshens breath. It’s definitely an essential part of your daily brushing routine… just like PӒRLA toothpaste tabs, of course!
[1 point!]
Myth 3: Use mouthwash straight after brushing teeth.
We know a lot of people brush, floss (we’ll get to this one!), then use mouthwash. Instead, brush your teeth, spit out excess toothpaste, and don’t rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash. You don’t want to wash away the protective, concentrated fluoride left on your teeth.
Use mouthwash at a different time, like after lunch - but make sure not to eat or drink for 30 minutes after using a fluoride mouthwash.
[1 point!]
Myth 4: Children should not use toothpaste with fluoride.
Everyone with teeth should use fluoride toothpaste! The only difference is how much. NHS advice on brushing children’s teeth is:
- Under 3’s should brush twice daily with a rice-sized smear of toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride.
- Children between 3-6 years old should brush twice daily with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1,000ppm fluoride.
- Children aged 7 and over should brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes with toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm of fluoride (like PÄRLA!).
[1 point!]
Myth 5: Floss after you brush your teeth.
We know a lot of people floss after brushing, but it’s best to floss before brushing your teeth. This will help you dislodge food and plaque. But never use toothpicks to remove trapped food as you may damage your gums and that could lead to an infection.
[1 point!]
Myth 6: Replace toothbrushes every 6 months.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months and after recovering from an illness.
[1 point!]
Myth 7: Bigger toothbrushes are better.
The best toothbrush for most adults is a toothbrush with a small to medium-sized head. Other than that, choose a toothbrush that works for you!
[1 point!]
How many points did you score?
If you scored 7 - round of applause for you. Less than 7 - why not sign up to the PÄRLA newsletter for a monthly dose of fun, eco-friendly toothcare info and reasons to smile?
Roundup: PӒRLA’s top mouth-proud tips
Brush your teeth before bed and at one other point during the day
Use a small to medium sized toothbrush
Use mouthwash after eating - not after brushing
Children should use fluoride toothpaste
Floss before brushing
Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months or after recovering from an illness.
Scrape your tongue every day to remove bacteria and freshen breath
During the month of WOHD we couldn’t go without mentioning how eco-friendly AND amazing for your mouth PӒRLA toothpaste tabs are.
Swap plastic tubes for eco-friendly tabs. Get WOHD ready, and be proud of your mouth this month and forever!
