World Water Week 2020- saving water in dentistry

Celebrating World Water Week At Home 2020

Can you change one simple habit to help save water?

Almost 70% of the Earth is made up of water, but less than 1 percent of that water is readily available for human use —  fresh (rather than salty) and reasonably clean. We don’t just use fresh water for drinking, we also wash in it, clean with it and use it to produce almost everything we buy, from food to furniture.

Scientists are warning that we are rapidly depleting the global supply of fresh water and urging us to conserve water by using our water supply wisely and being responsible.

What are we doing about it?

As part of our Covid-19 preventative measures, the team here are washing our hands more often. Our long handled surgical taps allow us to turn off the tap with our elbows, which helps save water while rubbing in the soap, before turning the tap on again to rinse our hands. Where possible, we also use hand sanitizer which can save on water consumption.

Saving water at home

As individuals we can all reduce our water usage in the home by changing just one habit — turning off the tap when brushing our teeth for the required two minutes. According to Bristol Water, a running tap uses 9 litres of water a minute. So, by turning the tap off you are saving 18  litres of clean water each time you brush.

It’s not for everyone, but, brushing your teeth when in the shower can save water compared to leaving the tap running. It’s not something we would recommend, but if you reduce your shower time from ten to four minutes you could save another 20 litres of water.

A final water-saving tip, which will also help prevent tooth decay: don’t rinse your mouth out with water after brushing your teeth. Rinsing washes away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth and reduces its preventative effects

You can find out more about World Water Week At Home (24-28 August), by clicking here.

If you’ve got any questions or want to get in touch, call or text 07508 603355, email info@keynshamdentalcare.co.uk, or call 0117 986 2992.