Everyone does it, but you should definitely not brush your teeth at these specific times.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is essential, but there are some cases where you should wait before doing so.

We've known it since childhood: you should brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes. This is well known, but according to surveys, it's far from being respected by all French people. Beyond this general recommendation, there's one dental hygiene rule that's less well known and even less respected, but nonetheless very important.

Indeed, there are certain times when you should avoid brushing your teeth, especially if you risk damaging them. In a video posted on social media, the dentist, who creates content under the username "tadentistepreferee," reminds us of the times when it's best to wait before brushing your teeth.

The first is after eating sugary foods. "Sugar feeds cavity-causing bacteria, which produce acids that attack enamel. If you brush immediately, you risk spreading these acids and further weakening your teeth," the dentist explains on Instagram.

The second time to wait to brush your teeth is after eating, more generally. When we eat, our mouths become more acidic, especially if we consume sugary or acidic foods. This acidity weakens our tooth enamel, and brushing immediately afterward can make things worse. Along the same lines, you should also avoid brushing your teeth immediately after drinking soda or fruit juice.

The penultimate case where it's best to wait before brushing your teeth: after smoking a cigarette. Although a smoker may want (and need) to brush their teeth to remove tobacco breath, it's best to wait a little. "Tobacco smoke contains substances that weaken the tissues in the mouth and make the gums more sensitive," explains the dentist. She therefore recommends rinsing your mouth after smoking, or chewing sugar-free gum "to stimulate salivation and help eliminate residue." You should then wait 20 to 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.

Finally, the last (and most difficult) time to wait before brushing your teeth is after vomiting. Indeed, the stomach acid present in vomit, passing through the mouth, "weakens the enamel" according to the dentist, who therefore advises avoiding brushing your teeth immediately after. In all these cases, the ideal is to rinse your mouth while waiting to brush your teeth 30 minutes later.