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.

CIS Student Sails to Victory

Canadian International School (CIS) grade 4 student Tiago sailed away with a win in his category at the recent Singapore Youth Sailing Championship 2021. He secured third spot overall. The regatta counted towards school rankings, resulting in CIS coming 7th in the Silver Fleet category! 

Tiago has always been active in soccer, rugby, hockey and tennis but he eventually decided to specialise in sailing. He trains twice a week on weekends and participates in national races on a regular basis with a long-term goal of being invited to train with the Singapore national team. 

Being an avid sailor means that Tiago devotes a significant amount of time to practice and competitions including the Singapore Youth Sailing Championship. Even so, he has never let his busy schedule get in the way of his studies. With the help of supportive parents, homeroom teacher (Ms Daisy Zhang) and his own diligence, he was able to ensure he was up to date with all his lessons by managing his time properly. 

According to his mum Cindy and dad Claudio, winning is really just a lucky by-product of his commitment to the sport. Tiago has also learned how to be independent and responsible, and how to face and overcome challenges calmly through sailing. In fact, his commitment and determination are exactly what helped him secure the top spot in his category this year. 

Want to know more about CIS and our programmes? Visit www.cis.edu.sg or contact our Admissions team on +65 6734 8088.

How to Prevent Cavities?

Cavities, or tooth decay, are formed when bacteria eat away a tooth, starting from the enamel (outermost layer) and towards the dentin (inner layer). A cavity is irreversible and would require treatment to prevent it from worsening. 

Here are some ways to prevent cavities from forming and worsening:

•    Avoid overconsumption of acidic drinks such as coffee, wine, alcohol and soft drinks as these would erode the enamel protecting our teeth. 

•     Reduce intake of sugary foods to reduce the amount and time sugar remains in our mouth. This would directly reduce the amount of dental plaque formed. 

•     Refrain from snacking frequently as each time we snack, plaque in our mouth uses sugar found in food to make acid that attacks our enamel.

•    Drink plenty of plain water to keep your mouth clean. If you must consume acidic drinks, sugary foods or snacks, remember to drink water or rinse well to dilute the acids produced by bacteria in your mouth.

•    Maintain good oral home care by brushing two times a day, for two minutes each with a fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. This will help to remove food particles, bacteria and dental plaque.

•    Get regular check-ups with your dental specialist / dentist to ensure cavities are found and addressed before the symptoms (e.g. pain or sensitivity) appear. 

It is possible to be cavity-free. Prevention and early detection are crucial in avoiding costly and major dental treatments. And remember, it is never too young to start.

Dr Tan Kian Meng is a Dental Specialist in Prosthodontics with Specialist Dental Group®. He is also a Clinical Lecturer at the National University of Singapore and Diplomate with the American Board of Prosthodontics. He was formerly a Consultant at Singapore’s Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Fellow of Maxillofacial Prosthetics and Oncologic Dentistry Fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr Tan has special interest in prosthetic and implant restorative dentistry.

http://www.specialistdentalgroup.com | (65) 6733 7883

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