When Its OK to Spit!!!

Day 1,758, 13:09 • Published in United Kingdom Serbia • by Niko Jones

Royal Army Dental Corps – Oral Hygiene Circular No I



When it’s Ok to Spit!!!

As part of the formation of this elite Military Unit I will be preparing a monthly circular with a dental hygiene topic to aid all of our soldiers, sailors and airman whilst overseas fighting for our nation or back here in good old blighty keeping our borders safe.



Spitting can be considered one of the worst habits a person can have, but the Royal Army Dental Corps working with SaveWaterSaveMoneySavetheEarth and 10 of the UK’s leading water companies are encouraging people to “Spit don’t rinse” after using toothpaste. Spitting will not only help to save water but also improve dental health.



The two-step message is designed to encourage people to turn off the tap after they start brushing their teeth with toothpaste and save water. Rather than running the tap during cleaning and using it to rinse the teeth, instead just spit out the water and then use a fluoride mouthwash. Research by SaveWaterSaveMoney has shown that this simple act will not only save around 12 litres of water, but will also help to protect teeth.



Fluoride is said to be the single-most important ingredient in toothpastes. It helps dental health by strengthening the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay, and also reduces the amount of acid that the bacteria on your teeth produce.



Chief Dental Hygiene Officer of the Royal Army Dental Corps, Dr Niko Jones OBE, said, “It seems from research done by SaveWaterSaveMoneySavetheEarth that a significant proportion of people rinse their mouth out with water after they’ve brushed their teeth and leave the tap running, not aware of what this can do to the environment.
“By spitting the toothpaste out and not rinsing with water, this ensures that the fluoride found in 90 per cent of toothpastes and mouthwashes will remain on the teeth and therefore continue to remain effective. The long-term effects will help to preserve teeth and save water.”



Ben Doon and Phil McCavity, directors of SaveWaterSaveMoneySavetheEarth, said, “Turning the tap off while we brush our teeth and not rinsing our mouths out when we’re finished are two simple yet effective ways of saving water in the bathroom.
“In association with the water companies, the ‘Turn off the Tap’ campaign aims to educate people of the importance of turning the tap off while brushing as not only could it save around 12 litres of water every time, it also saves money.”



Research conducted by SaveWaterSaveMoneySavetheEarth has revealed that nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of 16 - to 60-year-olds admitted to leaving the tap running while brushing their teeth.
The research has also shown that in homes using a water-saving aid, only six per cent of 16-to 60-year-olds left the tap running, saving over 4,230 litres of water in the process.



Regards

Dr. Niko Jones
Chief Dental Hygiene Officer
Royal Army Dental Corps