Eating bogies is good for your teeth!

Can picking your nose really be classed as good dental hygiene?

Well we have to say that when we read about it we were totally astounded, but scientists at a number of universities, including Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology say that parents should not discourage their children from picking their noses and eating the bogies - because they contain a ‘rich reservoir of good bacteria’.In the article that was published in the journal of the American Society for Microbiology, they claim that eating snot can also prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth and they say that their findings suggest that snot could defend against respiratory infections, stomach ulcers and even HIV.What’s more, would you believe it, but researchers are now working on a synthetic mucus toothpaste and chewing gum to harness the dental benefits of bogies.So what do we at Carisbrook Dental make of this report? Can picking your nose be regarded as good dental hygiene?[caption id="attachment_4067" align="aligncenter" width="533"]

Good Dental Hygiene[/caption]Let’s put it this way … we won’t be recommending it to our patients!Call us old fashioned but we firmly believe that good dental hygiene begins with thorough cleaning of the teeth at least twice a day – morning and night – using a medium (not hard) toothbrush and fluoride based toothpaste.We also believe you should watch carefully what you eat and that you should stay away as much as possible from sugary foods and drinks – especially sweet, fizzy drinks that are especially harmful for your teeth.This is particularly important for young children and parents should try to get them into a good dental hygiene routine from the earliest possible age.The other thing we strongly recommend is that you should not neglect to arrange regular check-up appointments with your dentist. Letting your dentist or dental hygienist examine your teeth every six months is important because they can check them to confirm that everything is in order. If they do spot a potential problem then they can quickly and simply rectify it before it develops into a serious issue that requires major treatment.A good dental hygiene routine will help to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. At Carisbrook we are always more than happy to pass on cleaning advice … but one piece of advice we definitely will not be offering is that you should pick your nose and eat the bogies!If you would like to make an appointment for a FREE CONSULTATION or discuss any dental problem or to arrange a check-up then please call us today. You can call us on 0161 951 7295 or alternatively you can contact us by using the online form on our Appointments page.