I’m a dentist, but I haven’t had my teeth cleaned in 40 years… this is why my teeth are perfect

Dr. Ellie Phillips, an oral health expert from Austin, Texas, claims she hasn’t had her teeth cleaned by a dentist in 40 years.

Still, Dr. Phillips said in a video with more than 3.5 million views that her teeth are completely healthy.

Even dentists say so; she has recently been ‘poked and prodded in every way possible’ by several people, who say her mouth looks in excellent condition despite the previous cleanings.

Her routine goes against official recommendations, which advise visiting the dentist every six months for a cleaning.

Although Dr. Phillips hasn’t had her teeth cleaned in 40 years, she said she visits a dentist regularly to make sure her teeth are in good shape. Her most recent checkup, which took place in 2023, went off without incident, she said.

Dr. Phillips, a licensed dentist, says she has developed a regimen that allows her to avoid time-consuming appointments while maintaining a healthy smile.

This includes a daily oral care routine that consists of three mouthwashes, two separate toothbrushes, and several sticks of medicated gum per day.

“My real passion is helping people avoid dental treatment,” says Dr. Phillips.

The American Dental Association recommends having your teeth professionally cleaned every six months. However, this may vary depending on your specific oral care needs.

‘Regular dental cleanings are one of the most important things you can do to care for your teeth,’ Dr. Jeff Kindsetha dentist from Dana Point, California.

Despite these recommendations, Dr. Phillips 40 years ago to see how long she could last without a professional cleaning. Every few years she goes to the dentist to make sure her teeth are okay and asks if she needs a cleaning – she said they always send her home.

Dr. Phillips’ oral care routine goes way beyond just brushing his teeth. He uses a sweetener called xylitol throughout the day.

Xylitol is a sweet substance that occurs naturally in strawberries, mushrooms and corn, among other things.

It contains 40 percent fewer calories than sugar and has been shown to stop the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth, which can erode the enamel of your teeth. according to Delta Dental.

It was approved by the FDA as a food additive in 1986. It is often found in chewing gum. In high doses it can cause diarrhea, but it is generally considered safe for humans.

In Finland, chewing xylitol gum is part of a public health recommendation by dental authorities, who promote its cavities-fighting qualities. Dr. Phillips produces and uses her own brand of xylitol gum, called Zellies.

Every day, she aims to get between five and ten grams of xylitol by chewing her gum after every meal, snack or drink.

And then there’s the cleaning routine.

First, she rinses her mouth for a minute with a flavorless antibacterial rinse, such as CoSYS.

Immediately afterwards she takes one of the two toothbrushes. She has one specifically for nighttime care and one for the morning – because she likes to let the bristles dry completely between uses to eradicate bacteria.

She wets the brush and applies Crest anticavity toothpaste, then uses a gentle, circular motion to brush her teeth and gums.

When she’s done, she rinses her mouth with Listerine until it “starts to feel warm.” Using mouthwash instead of tap water prevents the fluoride from the toothpaste from being washed off her teeth.

After the Listerine, she reaches for a fluoride mouthwash from ACT, which has anti-cavity properties. These mouthwashes “work synergistically and harmoniously with the xylitol to improve your oral health,” Dr. Phillips said on her TikTok account, which has 473,800 followers.

Having an oral care routine is important, but genetics are also believed to play a big role in your oral health. For example, research has suggested Your chance of getting cavities is 20 to 85 percent greater if your parent has had cavities.

Dr. Phillips’ children were given some of the same oral hygiene tests as she was and had similar measurements, which could be a sign that they are following their mother’s protocol and have inherited her teeth.

TikTok users were quick to point this out in her video.

Additionally, the fact that Dr. Phillips has a background in dentistry means that she practices good oral health more often than a regular person.

Dental associations recommend that average people get regular cleanings because they prevent you from developing dental problems that require surgery, prevent bad breath and gum disease, according to Cleveland Clinic.

They added that keeping a clean mouth through regular cleaning also reduced the risk of developing heart disease, stroke and dementia.

“In addition to preventing certain oral health problems, brushing your teeth is also essential for maintaining good overall physical health, not just oral health,” says Dr. Kindseth. ‘Good oral hygiene is an absolutely essential aspect of personal health. ‘