Credits: Social Media
Dentist’s ‘life-changing’ interdental brush hack will ‘save your teeth’ from decay
You only get one set of teeth, so keeping them healthy is vital – and a dentist has shared one way to do that.
Speaking on TikTok, Dr Shaadi Manouchehri said there is one “life-changing” thing that will “save your teeth” which only takes a few seconds.
Dentist’s hack that will ‘save your teeth’
“If I was to teach everybody one life-changing hack it will be this,” she said. “I’ve been a dentist for almost 10 years now and this is the hack that I’m gonna teach you that’s gonna save your teeth.”
The dentist then explained the hack – coating an interdental cleaning brush in fluoride toothpaste and using it to clean in between your teeth. You need to do this after you’ve brushed your teeth, once or twice a day, to “deliver the much-needed fluoride”.
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Between the teeth is the “number one place” where cavities from, and doing this will ensure you can still eat sugary foods while keeping your teeth healthy.
Interdental cleaning brushes are tiny brushes that are designed to clean between your teeth, where a normal toothbrush does not reach. You can buy them in any regular grocery store or pharmacy and they aren’t very expensive.
How to do the interdental brush hack
- Put some fluoride toothpaste onto the back of your hand
- Coat the entire interdental cleaning brush in the toothpaste
- Clean in-between every tooth
- Do this after you have brushed your teeth
- Don’t have anything to eat or drink for 30-60 minutes
Here’s a tutorial:
Why is fluoride so important?
Doing this every day will coat your teeth in fluoride, which is vital for a healthy mouth.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, the NHS explains, which can help prevent tooth decay. It’s purposely added into many brands of toothpaste and the water supply to stop our teeth from wearing down.
Tooth decay begins when bacteria in your mouth creates acids which attack the tooth’s surface (enamel). This acid is produced when you have sugary food and drink, eventually leading to cavities, which are holes in the teeth.
Brushing your teeth thoroughly twice each day with a fluoride toothpaste is one of the best ways to prevent tooth decay. Toothpastes that contain 1,350 to 1,500 ppm of fluoride are the most effective.
After brushing, never rinse your mouth out with water or eat straight away as this gets rid of the protective fluoride layer. Don’t use mouthwash after brushing either as this also washes away the fluoride in the toothpaste.
Dr Shaadi Manouchehri is a dental surgeon and facial aesthetics practitioner who founded Smart Dental & Aesthetics in Marylebone. She graduated with BDS Honours from Barts and the London School of Medicine.
