Dentists Explain: You Shouldn't Brush Your Teeth in These Situations

Nowadays, people often brush their teeth, convinced that doing so will keep them cleaner and healthier. However, it turns out that a bright smile depends on more than just how often you brush your teeth.

A few hours after brushing, the number of microorganisms in 1 gram of plaque is 900 to 1,000. But after 5 to 6 hours, the count reaches millions. Without brushing, the number of bacteria on the teeth in one day reaches tens of millions! That's why it's important to brush, especially before bed.

We've been taught since childhood that brushing well in the morning and at night keeps teeth healthy. Some even brush right after lunch or after every meal. However, you might be surprised to learn that modern dentists don't always recommend brushing. In certain situations, it can actually be harmful.

Tooth enamel has a protective layer that's invisible to the naked eye. If you brush in the morning before breakfast, you remove this protective layer, making your teeth more vulnerable to acidic substances in food.

Moreover, it's not recommended to brush immediately after breakfast, lunch, or dinner either! Renowned London dentist Shaadi Manouchehri explained in an Instagram video that the mouth stays acidic for about an hour after eating, and brushing during this time increases the acid's impact on the enamel. Therefore, it's better to wait about an hour.

After eating sweets, you should also wait at least 60 minutes before brushing. During this period, the bacteria in your mouth break down the sugar, creating acid. If you brush immediately after eating, you're rubbing acid into your enamel, which can cause it to wear down. For this reason, dentists recommend waiting at least an hour before brushing.

Brushing frequently and at any time isn't always good; it should be done not only correctly and regularly but also at the right time! Ideally, brush your teeth right before bed and in the morning, an hour after breakfast.

A simple way of improving teeth health and strengthening enamel is eating cheese. Cheese helps to neutralize the acids produced by bacteria in the mouth after consuming sugary or acidic foods, helping to reduce the risk of tooth decay.  Cheese also has casein proteins which can help to protect teeth. Adding small amounts of cheese to your diet could improve your overall teeth health.