Jakarta (ANTARA) - There must be a gap of at least 30 minutes between eating and brushing teeth to allow the acid that comes from glucose to decline, dentist from the University of Indonesia, Dewi Isroyati, has advised.

"The glucose from foods produces acid in the oral cavity, which causes the loss of ions and can create cavities. The acid content decreases within 20–30 minutes," she told ANTARA here on Monday.

When one brushes teeth directly after eating, there is still a lot of acid content within the oral cavity, therefore, it spreads to all the teeth, she explained.

This is why the best moment to brush teeth is when the acid content has decreased.

"That is the moment when we brush to clean up the rest of the acid," she elaborated.

Brushing teeth with toothpaste containing fluoride can restore the minerals in the teeth.

Moreover, she stressed on diligently cleaning teeth after breakfast and before sleeping because leftover acid that is not cleaned can be detrimental to teeth.

The acid that remains in the teeth can cause demineralization, or the loss of ions within the oral cavity.

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In addition to brushing time, the pressure applied when brushing must also be considered.

Excessive pressure can lead to teeth abrasion. It is best to choose a toothbrush with smooth bristles and small edges in order to reach the farther edges of teeth, which would result in a cleaner oral cavity.

Isroyati also emphasized the importance of maintaining dental and oral health.

One must ensure against cavities in order to enjoy eating a variety of foods, such as Eid al-Fitr sweets.

"If our teeth are fundamentally healthy, drinking or eating sweets should not be a problem," she remarked.

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Translator: Nanien Yuniar, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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