I’m a dentist – this is the huge mistake you are making when brushing your teeth

A dentist has revealed the massive mistake thousands are making when it comes to oral hygiene. 

Dr Minoo Ghamari, from Gorgeous Smiles in Melbourne, explained you should always floss before brushing your teeth for two reasons – cleanliness and toothpaste effectiveness.

‘By flossing first you remove food from in between your teeth which can then be brushed away with your toothbrush, removing all the particles you’ve just dislodged,’ she said.  

‘Toothpaste also becomes more effective, filling in the areas where you have flossed and cleansing them, providing you with a cleaner, fresher mouth.’

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) found that three in four people (75 per cent) rarely or never floss.

Flossing is a crucial part of your tooth-brushing routine because it can get to the hard-to-reach places. Brushing your teeth after flossing with fluoride toothpaste can clean your teeth much more thoroughly than brushing before flossing. 

In addition to this, Dr Ghamari revealed another two lesser-known points about looking after your teeth. 

While most people brush their teeth after breakfast to keep their mouth feeling fresher for longer, Dr Ghamari said this is the wrong way round. 

You should be brushing your teeth first thing in the morning before breakfast. 

‘After eating, your mouth goes into acidic mode, attacking food particles with acid to break them down more effectively. Saliva neutralises this acidity to an extent, but there are often still remnants of acid within your mouth after eating,’ she said. 

‘Now imagine you wait to brush your teeth after acid has filled your mouth. You’ll be rubbing acid into your enamel, which can negatively impact its protective qualities across your teeth.’ 

It’s also a good idea to get into this habit so you’re not swallowing the bacteria that have multiplied in your mouth overnight.  

‘Your teeth carry between 1,000 and 100,000 bacteria, and these multiply every five hours. Just imagine washing all of that down with your breakfast and no one wants that,’ Dr Ghamari said.

Many opt to use electric toothbrushes for a more effective clean, however this becomes redundant if it’s used incorrectly.

Dr. Ghamari explained: ‘They are designed to be held against the tooth and gum at a 45-degree angle to do the hard task of cleaning for you.

‘If you’re using an electric toothbrush the same way you’d use a manual toothbrush, you might be at risk of damaging your gums. This could even lead to gum recession in the long run.’