Dr Shaadi Manouchehri, a dentist who regularly shares advice on TikTok, says there are three things she does every day that ‘significantly improves her life and teeth’.
The dentist, who has almost a decade of experience under her belt, claims that the simple tasks have helped her achieve healthier and brighter smile.
In a recent video, she explained how her three daily tasks are easy enough to keep on top of every day.
She said: “The first thing I do when I wake up is brush my teeth and then have breakfast. If you’re doing this the other way around it can damage your teeth and your gums.
“You’re also more likely to get cavities because overnight the bacteria in the mouth will multiply and if you eat straight away that can be really damaging. So, you need to brush beforehand to protect your teeth from cavities.”
The second thing she does is use a tongue scrapper each morning and night. Dr Manouchehri says it has to be copper. Copper tongue scrapers are resistant to corrosion and can last a long time if cleaned regularly.
The metal is also an antimicrobial surface that helps kill bacteria and viruses, which can in serious cases can lead to problems like tooth decay and gum infections.
She added: “This has meant that, not only do I not get bad breath, my oral health and hygiene has generally improved. Also, I can taste things a bit better as well.”
Thirdly, the dentist uses mouthwash at a certain time of the day. “I stopped using mouthwash after I brushed my teeth and I will use it before,” she said.
“This is to make sure the bacteria and debris in the mouth are removed and then you go in with your brush and floss, making sure the majority of things are removed.
“I used to use mouthwash after brushing and this is the worst thing you can do – you should spit not rinse after brushing to allow the flouride [in your toothpaste] to help make your teeth physically stronger.
“If you use mouthwash straight after, that washes away that protective flouride layer and it’s going to make your teeth more suseptible to getting cavities.”
Beyond what you can do each morning and night in the bathroom, the number one way to keep on top of you roral health is to see your dentist routinely.
According to the NHS, having regular check-ups with your dentist is the best way to spot and solve problems early. If problems are not treated, they may lead to damage that’s harder, or even impossible, to repair.
