They realised they’ve been cleaning their gnashers in completely the wrong order – and chances are, you probably are too! Krysta Ambruson shared her advice on TikTok, where she posted an instructional video. Apparently, there’s a specific sequence you should complete each task in.
Krysta says that if you practice oil pulling, this should be your first step. Oil pulling is an ancient oral health practice that originated in Ayurvedic medicine. It involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in the mouth for a period of time, typically around 15-20 minutes, before spitting it out. The most commonly used oil for this practice is coconut oil, although sesame oil and sunflower oil are also traditional options.
While some small studies suggest that oil pulling may have oral health benefits, such as reducing plaque and gingivitis, it isn’t for everyone. But Krysta says that’s perfectly OK. While oil pulling isn’t essential, the dental expert shared something that is.
Tongue scraping is apparently a must – and you should do it before getting the toothbrush out. Krysta said this doesn’t have to be done twice a day but should be done “at least once”. If you are only going to do it once, it is apparently more important to do it in the morning.
You should then move on to flossing – whether this be regular flossing with tape or water flossing, which she deems the “best” method. The hygienist also highlighted the importance of “wrapping the floss around each side” of every tooth.
After flossing, Krysta reaches for the mouthwash. And it’s only after she’s followed all of these steps that she picks up her toothbrush and gives her pearly whites a good scrub for two minutes. Krysta does not rinse her mouth out after she’s brushed, which allows the paste to continue working its magic.
People were surprised to learn they’ve been missing out the vital tongue scraping step for years. One said: “Wait, tongue scraping before brushing? I think you might have just changed my life.” And another added: “I’m just now learning I’ve been doing it backwards this whole time.”