Everyone knows you’re supposed to brush your teeth in the morning, but did you realise there’s a correct time?
A dentist has gone viral on TikTok after explaining that you must brush those pearly whites at one specific point – or else.
When to brush your teeth
Dr Shaadi Manouchehri revealed you have to brush your teeth as soon as you wake up. Whether it’s 6am, 8am or 10am – heading to the bathroom must be the first thing on your agenda.
“If you’re not brushing your teeth first thing in the morning, I’m so sorry but you are actually ruining your teeth,” she said.
The dentist explained that nighttime is when your teeth are most susceptible to damage because salivary flow is slow.
Saliva contains calcium hydroxyapatite, which protects your teeth by preventing calcium loss (demineralization), Cleveland Clinic explains. It also cleans your teeth by washing away bits of food debris and dilutes acidic foods you chew to protect your teeth from erosion.
Overall, this helps reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease. However, at night your body shuts down and doesn’t produce any saliva, which makes the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply in your mouth.
Don’t eat breakfast first
Dr Manouchehri said you must never eat breakfast before brushing your teeth because you’re feeding the bacteria that has multiplied during the night.
If you go and brush your teeth after breakfast, you are also brushing the acid that the bacteria produced straight onto the teeth, which can damage and wear them down.
“What you need to do instead is brush your teeth first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up and then have your breakfast, and then you can go about your day,” she said.
If you want to refresh your teeth after breakfast, the dentist said to use mouthwash.
The NHS recommends brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for about two minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy. If you don’t do this, a film of bacteria called plaque builds up and coats the teeth, which contributes to gum disease and tooth decay.
Use a toothbrush with a small head and a compact, angled arrangement of long and short round-end bristles. An electric toothbrush with an oscillating or rotating head may clean your teeth better than a manual toothbrush – but both options are fine.
After brushing, spit out any excess toothpaste but don’t rinse your mouth out immediately. This will wash away the fluoride, reducing its protective effects. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, which helps to reduce decay.
Dr Shaadi Manouchehri is a dental surgeon and facial aesthetics practitioner having graduated with BDS Honours from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
