Skip to content
Next Episodes
Mon: 7:30pm
Tues: 7:30pm
Classic Episodes
Mon: 1:30pm
Tues: 1:30pm
Dentist’s 30-minute brushing rule that’s essential for healthy teeth Credits: Social Media
By Ellissa Bain

Dentist’s 30-minute brushing rule that’s essential for healthy teeth

By Ellissa Bain

We’ve always been told it’s a great idea to brush your teeth after eating food, but on some occasions, it could lead to more issues.

Following this dentist’s 30-minute rule will ensure your pearly whites stay healthier for longer and your smile remains intact.

Woman putting toothpaste on a toothbrush
Close up of a woman putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. Credit: Sally Anscombe (Getty Images)

Dentist’s 30-minute brushing rule

Dental professor Ezzard Rolle says you should always delay brushing after you’ve eaten a certain kind of food.

“We definitely recommend holding off on brushing after consuming anything acidic, whether it’s fruit, soda, juice, or sour candy,” he said in a video for Columbia Universitys College of Dental Medicine.

“The reason for that is that when acids are in the mouth, they weaken the enamel of the tooth, which is the outer layer of the tooth.”

Brushing immediately after eating or drinking something acidic can damage the enamel. When enamel wears down, this causes tooth decay, which can lead to cavities, infection and even tooth loss, MedlinePlus explains.

Waiting about 30 minutes before brushing allows the tooth enamel to remineralize and build itself back up. After consuming something acidic, Rolle recommends drinking or rinsing your mouth with water as this starts the remineralization process.

Another dentist, Dr. Ferakh Hamid, revealed that brushing straight after acidic foods could even affect the color, saying: “Brushing your teeth in certain ways, like without water or right after eating acidic foods, might actually make them look less white over time.”

He added that it’s important to wet your toothbrush before brushing, because without water toothpaste doesn’t spread well, leading to dull teeth.

Five tips for healthy teeth and gums

Rolle shared five more important tips for healthy teeth and gums:

  1. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush: Hard toothbrushes can be too abrasive and wear down the enamel on your teeth, while also causing the gums to recede.
  2. Get the right angle: When brushing, he says you should position the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums, hold the toothbrush parallel to the teeth, and brush in a circular motion.
  3. Brush and floss twice a day: You should be not only brushing but also flossing twice a day, cleaning between the teeth in the areas that toothbrushes don’t often clean effectively.
  4. Brush by quadrant: Picture your mouth as four quadrants and spend 30 seconds brushing each area – upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left.�
  5. Use an electric toothbrush: Where possible, you should use an electric toothbrush as it does a lot of the brushing motion for you.

Ezzard Rolle, DDS, is a New-York based dental practitioner and Professor of Dental Medicine at Columbia University College.

Dr. Ferakh Hamid, BDS, MSc, is a dental practitioner at UK practice Aesthetique Dental Care�with more than 20 years of experience.