A dentist has issued a warning to Brits about the dangers of brushing their teeth in a specific location, which happens to be a place many people choose for their daily routine.
According to the dentist, brushing your teeth in this particular spot could expose you to serious health risks and increase the chance of getting sick.
Caring for our teeth is a daily responsibility, and healthcare professionals generally advise brushing twice a day to keep harmful plaque and bacteria away.
Regular brushing not only helps keep teeth strong and healthy but also prevents them from yellowing. Additionally, there are some straightforward tips for getting your teeth looking bright and white again if they have started to look discolored.
Many people also use mouthwash as part of their oral care routine, which, when combined with flossing and regular dental check-ups, can help keep teeth in good shape even as they age.
However, people can still make mistakes, and one dentist has recently issued a warning about a common error made by those who choose to brush their teeth in an unusual location.
No, we’re not talking about the sink, which is naturally the most common place for the twice-a-day task.
Dr. Zaeem, who works with the electric toothbrush brand Ordo, has shared insights into some of the most frequent oral health care mistakes we make and offers advice on what we should be doing instead.
In particular, he has highlighted those who think brushing their teeth in the shower is a convenient option.
Although brushing in the shower might seem unusual to some, it turns out that a surprising number of people choose to do this every day.
The reasoning behind this habit is understandable—it’s about combining daily hygiene tasks in one place. But unfortunately, brushing in the shower comes with a high risk of health problems.
“For some people this seems like an obvious place to brush your teeth as you’re conveniently also washing the rest of your body,” Dr. Zaeem explains.
“However, it’s not a good idea to brush your teeth in the shower as moisture in the shower can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow.”
“This means that your perfectly clean toothbrush is now exposed to bacteria and therefore so is your mouth. The heat from the shower can also damage the bristles on a toothbrush.”
So, brushing your teeth in the shower isn’t just less effective—it also means that the heat and steam can turn your toothbrush into a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, which you would then be putting straight into your mouth. That’s not ideal, so it’s better to avoid it.
Dr. Zaeem also recommends replacing your toothbrush head regularly to ensure it remains effective.
He explains: “All brush heads wear out over time, this means that they will be less effective at cleaning, more susceptible to contamination and potentially damaging to teeth and gums.”
“We would always recommend changing the brush head on sonic toothbrushes or manual toothbrushes every two to three months. This way, you can be sure your toothbrush is performing at its best.”
