While it seems counterintuitive, there are actually times when not brushing your teeth is a good way to protect them. This may be bad news for those people who love that fresh, minty feeling you get when you brush right after a meal.
Full disclosure: This information comes from TikTok, but it was presented by a real dentist, Dr. Shaadi Manouchehri, who has about 12 million TikTok viewers.
Healthy Teeth
Healthy teeth thrive in an environment that has the proper pH balance. That ensures your mouth doesn’t start the process of demineralization. That’s what happens when alkaline turns into acid, which attacks and softens the enamel on the surface of your teeth. Pores and fissures form, and that’s when the harmful bacteria go to work.
The most important time NOT to brush your teeth is right after vomiting. Imagine! The contents of your stomach are extremely acidic, and this is the worst time to spread the acid on your enamel. This advice had some strong pushback in the comments section including one respondent who said, “I would rather lose all of my teeth than not brush after vomiting.”
Brush Your Teeth Right After Breakfast
The second time it is recommended not to brush your teeth is right after breakfast. Actually, the advice extends to any meal. This is doubly important immediately after eating sweets. It is recommended that you wait at least an hour after eating sweets.
Coffee
And then, there is coffee. It’s the same thing as sweets. The acid in your mouth from coffee can also harm your teeth.
Fortunately, there are a few alternatives to try if you want that good, clean mouth feeling but don’t want to compromise your enamel. One of the simplest is to either rinse with or drink water. You can also use sugar-free chewing gum or conclude your meal with dairy or non-acidic foods. If you still crave a little more of a hygiene bang, you can opt for a mouthwash with fluoride and a tongue cleaner, which removes excess acid.