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Campaign urges Britons to spit instead of rinse

British health officials say that 64 per cent of UK children aged 7 to 10 leave the tap running while brushing their teeth. (DTI/Photo courtesy of gosphotodesign/Shutterstock)
Dental Tribune International

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 11 July 2012

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RUGBY, UK: The British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) estimates that nearly two thirds of UK children leave the tap running while cleaning their teeth. With its “Turn off the Tap” campaign, the organisation is encouraging people not to rinse after brushing in order to save water in the bathroom, which also benefits dental health.

During this year’s National Smile Month, an annual campaign to improve public oral health, the BDHF aims to educate people about the importance of saving water while brushing their teeth. According to the organisation, turning off the tap can not only help the environment, but also improve dental health.

“Many people believe that after brushing their teeth they should rinse their mouth with water, when in fact it is better for oral health to simply spit the toothpaste out. 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,” said Dr Nigel Carter, Chief Executive of the BDHF. He hopes that the long-term effects will help to preserve teeth and save water.

In a collaborative research project, the BDHF, the water-efficiency company Save Water Save Money and a number of UK water companies have found that 64 per cent of seven- to ten-year-olds leave the tap running while brushing their teeth. Their latest research demonstrated that in households using water-saving aids such as tooth timers, only six per cent in this age group left the tap running, saving more than 4,200 litres of water.

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