Could the Selfie Craze Have a Positive Impact on Oral Health?
A new study has suggested that the selfie trend could have a positive impact on our oral health.
New research claims that video selfies could play a positive role in improving our brushing technique, leading to a lower risk of gum disease and dental decay.
In a study conducted at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, a group of participants was asked to film themselves cleaning their teeth. When the participants were brushing, researchers discovered an 8 percent improvement in the quality of brushing. They used stands to hold the phones and the fact that they were on camera seemed to encourage them to do a more thorough job.
Co-author of the study, Lance T Vernon, suggested that many people learn to brush their teeth without strict supervision and they may not really think about what they’re doing. Video selfies enable people to see what actually happens when they brush. They can identify errors and target areas that tend to get missed in the future. This is a faster and more effective means of adapting brushing habits than trying to re-learn skills using traditional methods. Researchers observed brushing technique and the application of skills, as well as duration, when compiling data to analyse and evaluate.
The team believes that video selfies could encourage people to perfect their brushing technique, leading to improved oral health and a lower risk of dental disease.
Findings from the study are available to view in the Indian Journal of Dental Research.
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