A dentist has shared three essential guidelines for preserving oral health and achieving a dazzling smile. In a TikTok video, Dr. Shaadi Manouchehri outlines advice to safeguard your teeth and gums while preventing cavities and gum disease.

Her first recommendation is to opt for an electric toothbrush. “Brush twice daily for two minutes,” she advises, “before breakfast and as the last task before bed.” Dr. Manouchehri also underscores the importance of cleaning between teeth using floss or a water flosser, cautioning that these are common areas where cavities develop.

“If you’re brushing without flossing, you’re neglecting a significant part of oral hygiene,” she points out.

Additionally, she recommends daily use of a tongue scraper. “The primary cause of bad breath is bacteria on the tongue, and a toothbrush alone doesn’t suffice,” she states.

She advises a simple technique: glide the scraper across your tongue “once or twice,” then rinse it for the next use. “This should be done twice daily after brushing,” she concludes.

In response to her advice, one viewer remarked, “I never knew about not brushing after breakfast. I completely believe in brushing post-breakfast.”

Another user confessed: “I didn’t floss at all when I was younger and none of my cavities were between my teeth.”

One user confessed: “I hardly brushed for four years – thank God I had no cavities. Aiming to brush and floss every day now!”

Another chimed in: “Not enough for me. I have to water floss, floss, brush twice a day and then a Sulcabrush.”

Wondering what to look for in a toothbrush?

The NHS advises, “it doesn’t matter whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush”.

Their statement reads: “They’re both equally good, as long as you clean all the surfaces of all your teeth and you use fluoride toothpaste. But some people find it easier to clean their teeth thoroughly with an electric toothbrush.

“For most adults, a toothbrush with a small head and a compact, angled arrangement of long and short round-end bristles is fine. Medium or soft bristles are best for most people.

“But making sure you thoroughly clean your teeth at least twice a day is more important than the type of brush you use. If in doubt, ask a dental healthcare professional.”