“Brush Your Tongue” MOH Dentist Shares Shocking Statistics About M’sians Poor Oral Health

In the midst of the pandemic, many of us have had to re-learn basic processes like the proper way to wash our hands and wear masks. Another thing we can add to that list is the right way to brush our teeth.

Mohd Khairul Izwan, a dentist from the Ministry of Health (MOH) took to Facebook to share a shocking (and kind of gross) statistic.

“Did you know, the average Malaysian brushes their teeth for less than one minute a day?” 

In fact, according to the dentist, “there’s even some who brush their teeth for less than 10 seconds!” Khairul warned that brushing your teeth for such a short period of time would mean that not all of your teeth’s surfaces can be cleaned. “Especially in cracks that are hidden and molars at the back of your mouth. That’s why there are still people who suffer from dental problems even though they brush their teeth every day.”

Another common mistake Malaysians tend to make with regard to their dental hygiene is not brushing the surface of their tongues, added Khairul. “The tongue is among the biggest contributors to dental problems.”

Thankfully, Khairul included a couple of tips that Malaysians could take note of in order to improve the upkeep of their dental hygiene:

• Brush your teeth for 2-4 minutes using fluoridated toothpaste at least two times a day (morning and night).
• Make a habit of gargling and rinsing your mouth with plain water after meals.
• Brush every surface of your teeth, including the molars. Don’t just brush on the outside surface, make sure you clean the inside parts as well!
• Use a soft toothbrush instead of a hard toothbrush to prevent erosion.
• Don’t forget to brush the surface of your tongue.

Hope these tips help! What do you guys think? 

Also read: You Can Now Brush Your Teeth with Spicy Mala Hotpot Toothpaste!