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

A dentist has revealed the huge mistake that thousands of people make when it comes to oral hygiene.

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

“Flossing first removes food from between your teeth, which you can then remove with your toothbrush, removing all the particles you just dislodged,” he said.

“Toothpaste also becomes more effective, filling in flossed areas and cleaning them, giving you 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 toothbrushing routine because it can reach 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 two other lesser-known points about taking care of your teeth.

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

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

‘After eating, the mouth goes into acid mode, attacking food particles with acid to break them down more effectively. “Saliva neutralizes this acidity to a certain extent, but traces of acid often remain in the mouth after eating,” he said.

‘Now imagine waiting to brush your teeth after the acid has filled your mouth. You’ll be rubbing acid into the enamel, which can negatively affect its protective qualities on your teeth.

It is also a good idea to get into this habit so as not to swallow bacteria that have multiplied in your mouth during the night.

«Your teeth contain between 1,000 and 100,000 bacteria, which multiply every five hours. “Imagine having all that with breakfast and no one wants that,” Dr. Ghamari said.

Many choose to use electric toothbrushes for more effective cleaning, however, this becomes redundant if used incorrectly.

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

‘If you use an electric toothbrush the same way you would use a manual toothbrush, you could risk damaging your gums. This could even lead to long-term gum recession.’