Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fromtheuk]

I've noticed it for a while but thought I'd mention it here.

During lunch, at my school I see various teachers heading for the toilet, with toothpaste and toothbrushes, sometimes they are already brushing their teeth before they'e even entered the bathroom.

Do you think they didn't get round to brushing their teeth in the morning or do you think halitosis is just part of being a teacher?

Or perhaps, they hate the aftertaste of the school lunch so much that's the only way they can rid themselves of the stink?!!!!

Surely their breath can't have gone downhill so fast after only 4 hours at school?!!!

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]

Didn't mumsy tell you to brush your choppers after each meal? If not, shame on her.

Good teeth are healthy teeth, happy teeth are joyous teeth.

I thought everyone knew this, but quite clearly I was clearly mistaken!

[KYC]

It doesn't happen at my 1st school (I'm there M-T) but at my second school..(on fridays)...RIGHT after lunch kids & teachers will grab their toothbrush and toothpaste and brush away. I teach the 6th graders before lunch...and actually they bring their tootbrush and toothpaste and cups into my class and sit it on their desk. I have never seen anyone brushing their teeth after lunch at my M-T school.

[lsrupert]

Several of the teachers at my school, myself included at times, do take the time to brush their teeth after lunch. It's just taking care of their teeth. Some students do as well. For the Koreans, I would imagine that perhaps the younger generations are starting to take better care of their teeth. I don't think that it's odd. I didn't see it done in the states, but hey.. if the worst you can find on them is that they brush their teeth after lunch, then things are looking pretty good.

[fromtheuk]

I saw the dentist before I came to Korea. I hadn't been for a few years.

I'm happy because now my teeth are a lighter shade of yellow! (unlike this emoticon)

[blaseblasphemener]

One of the things I always do now is brush after lunch. Mouth feels dirty if I don't. Maybe it's the kimchi...

[aaabank]

We all know that England isn't known for having the best of oral hygiene and so we must cut some slack here (check the OP's username).

My apologies to the OP and anybody offended. It's all in fun.

[crusher_of_heads]

I brushed my teeth at lunch time from Day One at uni undergrad.


English expats, it's never too late.

[sojourner1]

I do notice that halitosis is much more common in Korea than at home so that is driving many to brush their teeth habitually. It's not exclusive to teachers only, it's something do with a combination of diet, polluted environment, and even genetic build of an individual, but probably has more to do with lifestyle choices than anything.

Yes, I see people brushing often and at odd times too. They are just trying to avoid having that familiar stinky offending breath.

[PGF]

[Newbie]

A quick brushing after a Korean lunch is much needed just to freshen one's breath... have you every smelled kimchi and nasty soup breath?

However, the way they do it is all wrong. They brush far too much. Brushing too much is unhealthy as it wares down the enamel. This is part of the reason why teeth here are quite nasty. (compared to North America)

[nobbyken]

Kimchi breath, is why I thought it was standard practice here.

I never today, as I didn''t take any kimchi and I kinda forgot too.
It's nearly hometime now anyway.

[Dome Vans]

I've never really seen the point of brushing my teeth with toothpaste that lacks fluoride. Isn't that the important bit. If you want good breath chew chewing gum, it has the same effect. Anyho, I always thought you had to wait an hour after eating because there is certain bacteria that is beneficial after eating, brushing destroys it and affects teeth. Not in a good way.

[faster]

Korean food has a lot of garlic. I'm glad my coworkers brush their teeth after meals--I'd rather not share an elevator with them otherwise.

[SuperFly]

Yep, we all do it at the company I work for too. All 400 of us...