title: Dental abrasion pattern in a selected group of Malaysians.
abstract: Among 350 inhabitants of two villages, 31 (8.9%) cleaned their teeth using table salt and charcoal applied to their forefinger or a Melastoma brush. As a result, all had distinct forms of abrasion cavity on the labial surfaces of their teeth. All of the above three agents are highly abrasive and injurious to both the hard and soft oral tissues. This dying practice is only popular among a very small number of persons in the older age group, and should be discouraged.
authors.affiliation: Dental Faculty, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yaacob
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002606:Charcoal / Q000009:adverse effects; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010944:Plants; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000209:etiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D002606:Charcoal; D012965:Sodium Chloride