We all know how important it is to take care of our teeth.
Brushing twice a day, frequent use of mouthwash, and flossing regularly are all really important steps in your oral hygiene routine. But it can be all too easy to forget about how to best protect our enamel.
Hygiene expert Madame Sweat took to TikTok to reveal what you need to do after dinner and before you go to bed to get the best results for your teeth.
Madame Sweat said: “Here’s the plan. Wait until you finish dinner [to brush your teeth], but you must wait 30 minutes […] because while you’re eating there’s a lot of acid in the mouth, and so your enamel is softened.
“So [you] want to wait until that has hardened again. Then you go and brush your teeth”
She also warned people that there should be “no snacking after that”, because obviously that will soften the enamel again.
In the comments, someone wrote: “Too many rules, I am tired.” Another said: “I can confirm this!” A third simply wrote: “Thank you.”
Another TikTok user said: “This also applies to vomiting. Don’t brush right after. But people please always brush. Tired or not… always brush!” Madame Sweat’s video has been viewed more than 19,000 times on TikTok.
But what is enamel? According to Pronamel: “[It’s] the hard, shiny, white outer layer of your teeth that covers the underlying tissues.
“It’s the hardest substance in the human body – even stronger than bone – and is made up almost entirely of minerals. These minerals give enamel its strength so it can protect your teeth from damage and help keep them looking bright, white and healthy.”
However, despite this, it still needs looking after as there is only a thin layer on each tooth. Enamel erosion exposes the inner layers of your teeth to open air and the food and drink you consume, making them more vulnerable to cavities.
