Koreans follow the 3-3-3 brushing method. This method recommends brushing the teeth thrice a day, within three minutes after eating, for at least three minutes of duration.
Koreans also brush their teeth after eating sugary food or snacks in between meals.
Korean cuisine uses a lot of spices, like garlic and ginger, so Koreans believe brushing their teeth is a basic etiquette in their life.
It is surprising to note that many Koreans carry a toothbrush and toothpaste set at work.
A study was performed to assess the association between oral health and periodontal disease using nationally representative data in Korea. The data was taken from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
The study was conducted between 2012 and 2014 by the Division of Chronic Disease Surveillance, Cheongju, Korea, under the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, Sejong, Korea.
A complex, multistage, stratified probability-cluster survey of the noninstitutionalized civilian population was done as the sampling protocol. Trained individuals visited the subjects in their homes, and the standardized health examination was given to the participants.
A total of 23,626 individuals were candidates in the KNHANES in the beginning. The analysis was confined to a total of 18,382 respondents over 19 years of age. Individuals without any information regarding periodontitis were excluded which reduced the sample size to 15,754.
Finally, 14,527 individuals without any missing values were analyzed. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and it was accomplished according to the Helsinki Declaration's Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects.
The time of day when participants brushed their teeth and use of any secondary oral care products such as dental floss, mouthwash, interdental brushes, electric toothbrushes, irrigation devices, tongue cleaners, end-tufted brushes, and special devices for dentures, was recorded. Time of day was divided as before or after breakfast, lunch, and dinner or before bedtime and after snack.
The frequency of daily toothbrushing was calculated by the total number of times the teeth were brushed per day. The presence of tooth pain, history of orthodontic treatment, and dental checkups within a year were also recorded.
This study showed that a lower prevalence of periodontal disease was associated with toothbrushing after lunch and before bedtime, and toothbrushing after dinner was associated with a lower prevalence of severe periodontitis. The use of secondary oral care products like dental floss and powered toothbrushes was associated with a lower prevalence of periodontal disease.
It is a social norm in many countries across the world to brush your teeth twice a day. However, it is a social norm in many countries to brush teeth twice a day. However, this study shows the importance of the 3-3-3 brushing method adopted by the Koreans.
References:
1.https://creatrip.com/en/blog/3908
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6278802/