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Keep smiling while fasting
Practicing good oral hygiene at night will help you to feel fresh all day long!
As Ramadan approaches, we inevitably think about changing our daily routine. Fasting during daytime and breaking the fast after sunset is what makes this period of time so unique. It is a joyous social event when people come together and enjoy all the special meals that are prepared during Ramadan.
But how many of us think about oral hygiene after the meals?
Although there is no concrete data that answers this question, public sector health officials, dentists, as well as vendors of oral care products agree that a fasting person, in fact, is in more need of oral hygiene than the non-fasting person.
Dr. Rafih Khoury, a leading dental surgeon in Dubai says: “Good oral health is important for your total well-being while fasting. The condition of the tissues and structures of your mouth affect your general physical condition, ability to chew and speak, appearance, and personal relations, especially while you stay abstinent from eating and drinking.”
While fasting people are exposed to symptoms like dry mouth, bad oral taste and bad oral breath, since vapors from the empty stomach tend to bind to the teeth and gums, said Dr. Khoury. “Your oral wellbeing, the health of your teeth, mouth, and gums while fasting, depends on how often and how well you brush and floss your teeth at night. Brushing and flossing your teeth correctly removes bacteria that promote tooth decay and gum disease. Practicing oral hygiene regularly and thoroughly are two important means of preventing tooth decay, especially during Ramadan.”
When discussing the importance of scrutinized oral hygiene while fasting, it’s essential to understand that bacteria attaches to the tooth enamel using the outside membrane of the bacteria cell. If you’re not brushing and flossing your teeth thoroughly after your first meal, before bedtime and before sunrise, you end up with a large number of bacteria attached to your teeth all day long. When you get a large number of attached bacteria concentrated in an area of a tooth, you have bacteria plague forming and therefore bad breath (deleted).
LK Gupta, the regional business manager for Oral-B, the brand used by more dentists around the world says: “Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that attacks your teeth, when food is frequently left on the teeth, eroding the surface enamel and hence causing tooth decay. These bacteria thrive on these foods and the plaque starts producing acids that causes tooth decay and irritates the gums as well, causing the breakdown of the gums and its supporting tissues, eventually leading to gum disease. That is why brushing after every meal is mandatory.”
Another important weapon against tooth decay during Ramadan is flossing. Clean the area between your teeth at least once a day, night time is best, but it is better to floss each time you brush. Additionally, you can use mouthwashes before sunrise containing chlorine dioxide are the latest advance against bad breath. Chlorine dioxide has been used for years to sanitize water supplies. In these mouthwashes the chlorine dioxide directly attacks the volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath.
Last but not least, remember that a dry mouth represents the ideal home for odor causing bacteria which flourish in this type of environment. Saliva normally keeps the mouth moist. Additionally, saliva helps wash away the food particles bacteria feed on and dissolves odorous volatile sulfur compounds. Drink plenty of water after sunset to flush your mouth from all food particles.
LK Gupta ends saying: “Maintaining healthy teeth and an attractive smile while fasting is not difficult if you use the hours after sunset to care for your oral hygiene. The daily routine of brushing and flossing has to be part of Ramadan like it is part of your daily routine in every other month.”
Oral –B® tips for good oral health fasting
• Brush your teeth after every meal when ever possible. Bacterial begins attacking your teeth minutes after eating a meal. By brushing your teeth after every meal you minimize the bacteria’s chances of getting a foot hold on your teeth.
• If you can’t brush your teeth after a meal, at the very least, brush your teeth in the evening before bed (while you sleep, your saliva production is lessened and bacteria act more readily) and again in the morning before sunrise.
• With every brushing of teeth, brush the tongue to refresh your breath. Remember to clean near the back of the tongue where most of the bacteria resides but be careful not to gag yourself. (deleted)
• Floss your teeth with every brush.
• Use mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide after sunset.
• Drink plenty of water after sunset to stimulate saliva flow, wash away left-over food particles, and moisten the mouth making it less hospitable to decay causing bacteria.
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