Why Japan brushes more than the rest of the world

I remember when I started working in a large conglomerate in Japan, one of the things that most surprised me was that not only did my co-workers brush their teeth after lunch, they also had a toothbrush set, complete with a little cup, in the company's toilet! I had never seen this in my home country. Of course, in time, I realized it wasn't just my co-workers, but a common thing the country over. 

Now, my children bring one of those little toothbrush sets to school, complete with their own cup! Because every child brushes their teeth in school every day after lunch. They bring the set on a Monday morning and bring it home on a Friday. My Japanese husband who comes home for lunch every day, religiously brushes his teeth after lunch as does everyone in his family. As much as I was surprised by the custom to brush your teeth after each meal, he was surprised to learn that it isn't standard everywhere else! 

Globally, brushing twice a day is the norm, and in some regions even once a day is considered acceptable. That makes Japan’s three‑times‑a‑day pattern notably higher than the global average. It comes from a broader cultural emphasis on cleanliness, almost a form of social responsibility. With children brushing their teeth three times a day from early childhood, it becomes a lifelong habit naturally. I have to admit, despite being in Japan more than 20 years, I still mostly brush my teeth only twice a day. How about you, have you come around to the Japanese way of three times a day?