A dentist has revealed the huge mistake thousands of people make when it comes to oral hygiene.
Dr. Minoo Ghamari, from Beautiful Smiles in Melbourne, explained that you should always floss before brushing your teeth for two reasons: cleanliness and effectiveness of the toothpaste.
“Flossing first removes food from between your teeth, which you can then brush away with your toothbrush, removing any particles you just loosened,” she said.
‘Toothpaste also becomes more effective, filling and cleaning the areas where you flossed, leaving you with a cleaner, fresher mouth.’
Dr. Minoo Ghamari (pictured) explained that you should always floss before brushing your teeth for two reasons: cleanliness and effectiveness of the toothpaste
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) found that three in four people (75 percent) rarely or never floss.
Flossing is a crucial part of your teeth brushing routine as it allows you to reach those hard to reach areas. Brushing your teeth after flossing with fluoride toothpaste can clean your teeth much more thoroughly than brushing before flossing.
In addition, Dr. Ghamari two more lesser-known points about caring for your teeth.
While most people brush their teeth after breakfast to keep their mouth feeling fresher for longer, Dr. Ghamari says this is the wrong way to go.
You should brush your teeth in the morning before breakfast.
“Flossing first removes food from between your teeth, which you can then brush away with your toothbrush, removing any particles you just loosened,” she said.
‘After eating, your mouth goes into an acidic mode, attacking food particles with acid to break them down more effectively. Saliva neutralizes this acidity to some extent, but acid residue often remains in your mouth after eating, she says.
“Now imagine waiting to brush your teeth after the acid has filled your mouth. You’re rubbing acid into your enamel, which can have a negative effect on the protective properties of your teeth.’
It’s also a good idea to get into this habit so that you don’t swallow the bacteria that has multiplied in your mouth overnight.
‘Your teeth contain between 1,000 and 100,000 bacteria, and they multiply every five hours. Imagine washing all that down with your breakfast and no one wants that,” Dr. Ghamari said.
While most people brush their teeth after breakfast to keep their mouth feeling fresher for longer during the day, Dr. Ghamari says this is the wrong way to go. You should actually brush your teeth in the morning before breakfast (stock image)
Many choose to use electric toothbrushes for more effective cleaning, but this becomes redundant if used incorrectly.
Dr. Ghamari explained, “They are designed to be held at a 45-degree angle against the tooth and gums to do the hard job of cleaning for you.
‘If you use an electric toothbrush in the same way as a manual toothbrush, you may risk damaging your gums. This could even lead to gum recession in the long term.’