Learn When Not to Brush Your Teeth
Wrong brushing can cause more harm than benefit to our teeth including tooth staining, gum bleeding, bad breath, tooth sensitivity and even stroke & heart attack. Here are a few tips for you!
How many times do you brush your teeth? How long do you brush them? Which brush do you use? These and many other questions are very important when it comes to oral hygiene.
ISH News has released videos about how to brush and care for your teeth. You can watch them here:
- 6 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy: https://youtu.be/GkaicLfaDBk?si=SoyR24kXeZlVeWbG
- Simple & Easy Teeth Whitening Home Remedies: https://youtu.be/f-nnUGChGBk?si=YF-lUa8aAugq4Mwq
- Homemade Tooth Powder Using Only 3 Ingredients: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2J7e5ajQ0E
Tooth enamel is the hard, outer layer of your teeth that protects them. Enamel is the strongest substance in your body – even stronger than bone – but it can still be weakened by acids in everyday foods and drinks such as fruits, fruit juice, sodas, and sports drinks. Your body can’t naturally replace this lost enamel, so it’s important to know the simple steps you can take to reduce the risks of tooth enamel loss and actively help to prevent it.
Sometimes, not brushing your teeth can help protect your teeth. Yes, you heard it right! Wrong brushing can cause more harm than benefit to our teeth, including tooth staining, gum bleeding, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, etc.
Here are some important tips on when you are not supposed to brush your teeth to protect the enamel of your teeth:
Choose the Right Toothbrush
Select a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. Soft bristles won’t scratch the enamel of the teeth like hard bristles can. Also, change your toothbrush regularly, as bristles wear out with every use and lose their effectiveness, especially if used twice daily.
Wait After Eating or Drinking Acidic Foods
Wait for 30 to 60 minutes to brush after consuming acidic foods and drinks like tea, coffee, orange juice, sodas, grapes, avocados, tomato sauce, vinegar, etc. The leftover acid from these items in your mouth can get rubbed onto your teeth and damage the enamel and minerals the teeth are made of.
After Vomiting
Don't brush your teeth immediately after vomiting. The content of vomit is highly acidic from the digestive acid present in your stomach and makes your mouth acidic too when you puke. Brushing after vomiting will rub the acid onto your teeth and damage the enamel and minerals the teeth are made of. Therefore, it's best to rinse your mouth with mouthwash, drink some water to neutralize the acidity in your mouth, and wait for 30-60 minutes to brush your teeth.
After Eating Sweets
We all know that after eating sweets, we have to brush our teeth. But don’t brush immediately. While chewing sweets, the sugar releases acid in your mouth. If you brush right away, the acid spreads and harms the teeth. So, wait for 30-60 minutes and then brush.
Remember, taking care of your teeth is important for your overall health. Follow these tips to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Don’t forget to consult your doctor before following these suggestions. Stay healthy and enjoy your beautiful smile!
