Q: Should I brush before or after breakfast?

 

A: It is recommended to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste in the morning, before breakfast for two main reasons.

1) Remove bacteria

When we sleep, salivary flow decreases. In addition, bacteria that causes dental plaque multiplies in our oral cavity. If not removed, these bacteria can produce sulphur compounds leading to bad breath. This explains the bitter taste as well as morning breath in our mouth whenever we wake up in the morning. Brushing has been shown to stimulate salivary production which has both cleansing and antibacterial properties.

2) Protect your teeth

Brushing with fluoridated toothpaste not only helps to increase the production of saliva but also coats your teeth with a protective layer of fluoride to prevent demineralization and promote remineralization of the tooth enamel.

3 Brushing immediately after breakfast is harmful

Research has shown that, whenever we consume food or beverages, the pH level in our oral cavity drops. When this happens, the mouth becomes acidic. As a result, there is some demineralization of the enamel. Brushing immediately after food will remove the already softened enamel layer, and result in loss of tooth structure. Thus, it is recommended to wait 30-45 minutes before brushing after a meal. This allows time for the pH level to be restored which in turn allows remineralization of the tooth surface. While waiting, you can rinse your mouth with fluoride containing mouthwash and/or drink plain water to help remove the food residues.

Dr Irene Sim is a Dental Specialist in Endodontics with Specialist Dental Group®. She received her specialty training in Endodontics from the National University of Singapore. Dr Sim has a special interest in dental traumatology, revascularisation, apexification, non-vital bleaching & cracked teeth management. For more information, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com.

Specialist Dental Group® is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services.

Do children learn best through purposeful play? Find out at the CIS Kindergarten Open House.

 

Did you know that learning can be both fun and academically rigorous when children are taught through purposeful play? At Canadian International School (CIS), kindergarten students aged two to five develop strong foundational skills in areas like literacy and numeracy as well as 21st century skills like critical thinking, problem solving and creativity by engaging in interactive activities designed to stimulate their imagination.

So what does purposeful play look like in reality? 'Mat Man', an activity where children draw around wood pieces of varying shapes that make up his "body", is an excellent example of how purposeful play delivers meaningful and contextual instruction. As they copy the shapes, which form the letters of the alphabet, students are learning how to write at the same time – fostering fine motor skills, coordination and an awareness of how to formulate letters.

This inquiry and play-based approach to CIS’ kindergarten curriculum sees academic content coupled with real-world application, which nurtures a strong conceptual understanding of topics ranging from math and literacy, to STEAM (science, technology, environmental studies, arts and math) and the arts.

Come and experience the benefits of purposeful play for yourself at the CIS Kindergarten Open House on 1 and 7 October. Parents are invited to bring their child along for a morning of fun educational activities, as they chat with principals and teachers about CIS’ kindergarten programme and how inquiry and purposeful play are powerful learning tools in early childhood education.

Vice-principal of CIS’ Tanjong Katong campus, Tonia Whyte Potter-Mal, shares why attending the Kindergarten Open House is a great way for parents to understand the school’s learning approach.

“CIS’ kindergarten open houses are a delightful opportunity for prospective parents and students to observe firsthand how teachers ignite curiosity in our youngest learners. The Kindergarten pods at Lakeside is an inquiry based space that supports the environment as the ‘third teacher’ by fostering interactive and meaningful experiences, catering to each child’s developmental needs. One of my favourite open house experiences is witnessing the excitement and hope of One of my favourite open house experiences is witnessing the excitement and hope of new families while sharing tangible evidence of our CIS learning values.”

Join the CIS Kindergarten Open House on 1 and 7 October from 9-10am. To sign up, visit the CIS website.