A dentist has issued a surprising warning, stating there are three instances when you should avoid brushing your teeth. Whilst it may seem odd for someone in the dental industry to discourage the practice, Dr Shaadi Manouchehri’s health advice is worth heeding if you want to dodge unnecessary trips to the dentist.
“These are the three times you should never, ever brush your teeth because you’re going to damage them and end up going to the dentist to have new teeth,” she stated in a TikTok video.
Addressing her 310,000 followers, she warned: “These are probably things you are doing every day because nobody has told you, or people have been telling you lies all your life. I’ve been a dentist for 10 years now and these are some of the common mistakes I see people making.”
Vomiting
One such mistake is brushing after vomiting. Dr Manouchehri recognises that it’s likely the first thing you’d want to do post-vomiting, but advises against it.
“When you vomit, the mouth becomes quite acidic – so if you go and brush your teeth you’re only going to wear them away,” she said.
Breakfast
Similarly, Dr Manouchehri advised that after eating, your mouth becomes “quite acidic”. She revealed: “It doesn’t matter what you’re eating, or whether you’re drinking tea or coffee, the bacteria in the mouth will also be metabolising what you eat, which created an acid,” she explained.
“The teeth are made up of minerals, so if you go and brush them straight away, you’re rubbing that acid around them. So, you need to brush before you have breakfast.”
Fruit
When it comes to fruit, Dr Manouchehri warns of its high sugar and acid levels. “It’s a similar concept and some fruits are very high in sugar,” she remarked. “If you go and brush your teeth after eating them, you’re rubbing the acid and also the sugar.”
She elaborated on the consequences: “Sugar gets metabolised to acid by bacteria in the mouth and so it’s having the same effect – it can damage the enamel of the tooth.”
The dentist advised waiting at least 30 to 60 minutes after consuming fruit before brushing or opting to use mouthwash immediately beforehand.
The video prompted scores of TikTok users to respond to the advice, one of whom admitted: “Omg I been doing it all wrong. Thanks for the advice.”
Another shared a personal experience that underscores the importance of her point: “I was very sick for years, throwing up several times a day and my teeth are ruined from brushing my teeth after it. It depresses me so much.”
And third person commented on their routine: “I thought it was universal that you brush your teeth first thing n the morning before putting anything in your mouth.”
The NHS’ dental advice is straightforward, meanwhile, stating on it’s website: “Brush your teeth for about two minutes last thing before you go to bed and on one other occasion every day.”