Dentist Explains Why People Should Never Eat before Brushing Teeth in a Viral Video

A dentist recently took to TikTok to offer viewers some advice to protect their teeth and keep them clean. Her simple tip revealed that many netizens were brushing their teeth at the wrong time.

The debate about when to brush one's pearly whites has been circling for years, but this month, one dentist decided to settle the matter once and for all.

The TikToker, who goes by @annapetersondental, told her viewers all about the perfect time to tend to teeth in the morning. She also provided some helpful reasons for her answers.

BRUSHING BEFORE EATING

According to the TikToker, good oral hygiene can be maintained by brushing teeth before eating breakfast. While some have argued that it's better to brush after eating, this dentist disagrees.

In the video, dental therapist Anna Peterson asked: “Did you know you shouldn’t brush your teeth after breakfast, always before?"

REASONS FOR BRUSHING FIRST

She went on to give reasons for her claims, and the clip gained a massive response. It also reached thousands of people and has been viewed over a million times.

In the video, Peterson expressed why people must first brush their teeth and then eat:

“There’s two reasons for this. At breakfast your mouth becomes acidic, so what you’re doing when you brush your teeth after breakfast is brushing the acid into the tooth and this wears away the enamel."

NOT EVERYONE AGREES

The TikToker commented that this simple rule protects the teeth from whatever will be eaten later on. Despite her recommendations, not all users were convinced or persuaded.

One netizen wrote: “I don’t fancy minty cereal...” While another person said: “Not all dentists agree on this. Some dentists say it’s fine as long as you leave 30 mins after eating/drinking.”

ONLINE RESPONSE

Some viewers praised her for sharing this tip. A netizen stated: “Thanks. I always brush straight away after waking up.” Someone else asked why nobody had told them this before.

A netizen who shared this sentiment said: “Never ever got told anything about personal care when I was in school.” Some people who wore braces pointed out that they needed to brush after breakfast.

DENTAL RULES

A user explained that because they have Invisalign braces, they can't go without brushing once they have eaten. There certainly were a vast array of opinions because of this clip.

General dental health rules still apply despite the debate about when to brush in the morning. Cleaning teeth daily and visiting a dentist regularly are all beneficial to keeping the inside of your mouth happy.

COMMON MISTAKES

A few common mistakes when brushing teeth include using an old toothbrush, brushing for too little time, and forgetting about the gums.

Other things to consider include how teeth are brushed. Dentists recommend going in small circular and up-and-down motions. By keeping track of this, oral hygiene can be improved.