Are there really times when it is ok to not brush your teeth? Throughout our lives, we have been told by our dentists, parents, and even teachers, to brush our teeth twice daily. There have been a lot of studies that show how brushing regularly can help prevent some oral conditions and improve our health. If you are like most people, you won’t feel comfortable and confident when you don’t brush your teeth.
Needless to say, brushing our teeth is important. But there are times when brushing may not be the right thing to do. This article is going to shed light on 5 times you should skip or delay brushing.
It is best to not brush your teeth under these circumstances
After throwing up
The first thing that may come to your mind after throwing up is to brush your teeth. Since our stomach acid is potent and can damage our teeth, it may seem logical to conclude that brushing is the best option. But that isn’t the case. In fact, brushing will do more harm than good.
You see, when you brush your teeth with a plastic or bamboo toothbrush after vomiting, you are indirectly spreading stomach acid to every area of your mouth. This, thus, will lead to damage to your teeth. If the toothpaste you use has abrasives in them, your teeth may be damaged even further.
As pointed out by dental health experts, our teeth become super vulnerable after they are exposed to stomach acid. It is best to wait for a few hours before brushing your teeth after vomiting.
Instead of brushing your teeth, you should rinse your mouth with water or use a diluted mouthwash. This is going to help keep your mouth fresh until it is ok to brush.
After a dental procedure
Brushing your teeth after an oral procedure is by no means a good idea and for good reason.
After a tooth extraction or a tooth implant procedure, your mouth is going to be sore and your may experience some discomfort. To ensure that you don’t irritate the treated area, your dentist will instruct you not to brush your teeth. He may also tell you to avoid oral care products like mouthwash and toothpaste. To ensure that your mouth is clean and germ-free, your doctor will recommend that you use a mixture of salt and water to disinfect your mouth. You should only start brushing after you have consulted your dentist. ‘
Do not brush your teeth When you are in the shower
If you are in a hurry, you may consider multitasking brushing your teeth, and bathing at the same time. But this isn’t really a good idea. In fact, it can put your oral health at risk. Since you are rushing, you may not brush your teeth properly or for the recommended two minutes.
Your showerhead contains thousands of microbes. So if you brush while bathing, some of these microbes will enter your mouth and your toothbrush. To prevent this, you should not multitask brushing and showering.
After eating
After eating high carbs and sugary foods, you should wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. When we eat foods, a chemical reaction takes place in our mouth and the acids are released. Also, the bacteria in our mouths interact with the chemical compounds (acids included) in our foods. During this process, our tooth enamel becomes weak temporarily. So if you brush right away, you are going to damage them. It is best you wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing. And remember to drink water or rinse your mouth after eating, as it will help reduce the acids in your mouth.
Do not brush your teeth If someone used your toothbrush
If you found that a friend or family member used your toothbrush accidentally, you should pause brushing until you get a new toothbrush. When you use a toothbrush someone has used, you are exposing yourself to the following issues.
Bloodborne illnesses- You may catch this if the person that used your toothbrush has bleeding gum. Below are some blood born illnesses you may catch if you ignore this tip.
- Brucellosis
- Hapatitis C
- Hapatitis B
- Syphilis
Bacterial infection- using a toothbrush used by others may expose you to bacteria like Pseudomonas, MRSA, and Lactobacillus. Note that some of these bacteria can cause serious health conditions like pneumonia.
Final note
The importance of brushing our teething daily cannot be overemphasized. Not brushing can put your oral and general health at risk. That said, there are times when it is best not to brush. Brushing after vomiting or shortly after eating will do more harm than good, as it may damage your teeth. Also, brushing after an oral surgical procedure isn’t really a smart move, as you may irritate the treated area. It is best you wait for a few days before brushing. And if someone happens to use your toothbrush accidentally, it is best you pause brushing until you get a new toothbrush. As mentioned above, using a toothbrush another person has used can expose you to some serious health conditions.