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By Lollie Hancock
Beauty and Self Care Reporter
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While we all know the key to good skin is a strong routine and take time to ensure our hair gets the nutrients it needs, many forget to give the same amount of time and attention to their teeth.
With a healthy smile not only boosting confidence, but also impacting our health and helping to fight against tooth decay and gum disease, dental hygienist Krysta Ambruson's four-step oral hygiene routine could be the key to perfect teeth.
Ambruson shared her in-dept method, which includes taking 10 minutes of her morning for oil pulling, to her 113,000 TikTok followers, amassing 6.7 million views since it was posted on February 19.
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Start Oil Pulling
For Ambruson, the morning begins by oil pulling, as she uses an ingredient like coconut oil to remove bacteria and enhance tooth health by swilling the liquid around her mouth.
Explaining to viewers why oil pulling is her first step, Ambruson said: "I personally like to add oil pulling in the morning because in Ayurvedic medicine they recommend you do it when you first wake up."
She went on to share how "the reason oil pulling is beneficial in the morning is because our bacteria have a lipid layer, which is a fatty layer..."
The fats within the oil help to lift and break down the lipid layer, removing bacteria, as well as toxins and microbes in the teeth and gums, with Ambruson adding that "it also hydrates your tissues and helps hydrate your teeth, too."
Speaking to Newsweek, Ambruson said: "I've been oil pulling for about six months now.
"It was never something I was against as a dental hygienist – I was always fascinated by the process and by more holistic, more natural Ayurvedic approaches.
"My mouth was really hydrated, it felt very clean. With oil pulling you're not completely eradicating the bad or the good bacteria – it's all about creating that balance."
Although London-based cosmetic dentist and facial aesthetician Dr Krystyna Wilczynski is aware of the natural remedy, it isn't one she ever recommends, telling Newsweek: "This should never be used in place of brushing or flossing the teeth and isn't a method I would personally advise to my patients due to the lack of evidence to support it."
Don't Neglect the Tongue
After thoroughly rinsing her mouth post-oil pulling, which Ambruson refers to as a pre-rinse, she goes on to clean her tongue with a stainless-steel tongue scraper, advising viewers to place the scraper on the back of the tongue before sliding it forward.
For those who feel their tongue scraper needs a deep clean, Ambruson suggests to "just pop them in the dishwasher."
Unlike with oil pulling, Dr Wilczynski is a fan of tongue scraping, sharing how: "Tongue scraping can be a beneficial part of your oral health regime, particularly for those who suffer with bad breath or gum disease.
The tongue is made up of small crevices, which can harbor bacteria and debris and cause a coating on the tongue. A tongue scraper can remove this, or you can opt to use your toothbrush to help remove."
Water Flossing vs Traditional Flossing
Ambruson's third step revealed that she steers clear of traditional flossing in the morning, opting to use a water flosser instead.
The oral care professional shared that: "In the morning I only water floss... you can use traditional floss. I just recommend cleaning between your teeth."
Cold water can be a shock for sensitive teeth, so Ambruson fills her water flossers with warm water for a more pleasant experience – a switch that she says "makes all the difference in the world."
For those unsure where to start with a water flosser, Ambruson's top tip is to "make little U-shapes along each tooth, holding it for about three seconds between each tooth" to allow the water to flush out the crevices, making sure to pass over both the outer and inner sides of each arch.
Whilst Dr Wilczynski is adamant that "flossing should be a part of everybody's daily oral care routine," she prefers the traditional method over high-tech.
"Personally, I would always recommend manual flossing to ensure you are removing all the plaque and preventing gum disease," she says.
"This should be done daily and is also much more convenient than using a water flosser. However, a water flosser can be a great tool for those who may find manual flossing difficult, for example if you have braces, bridge, or fixed retainers behind your teeth. I would also recommend regular hygienist visits every six months to help with any plaque build-up and to give a deep clean!"
Don't Rinse
For the final step, which for the majority is their first and only one, Ambruson finally picks up her toothbrush to begin brushing, encouraging viewers to make sure they brush the outside, inside, and chewing surface and going into detail about the differences in using manual and electric toothbrushes.
Another top tip she shared was to spit out excess toothpaste, but not rinse out your mouth following brushing to coat and help rebuild minerals on the teeth, a step so vital she points out: "I say it in every video."
Not rinsing the toothpaste off, which she compares to "putting on sunscreen and then jumping in the pool after," is something Dr Wilczynski agrees with.
Explaining why you should avoid rinsing, she said: "The active ingredient within most toothpastes is fluoride and this helps to prevent tooth decay. It works to re-mineralize the enamel on the teeth, helping to keep the enamel strong. By rinsing it away, it dilutes it and makes it less effective."
What Do the Commenters Say?
The video was met with over 1,000 comments asking for further oral care advice and sharing how well Ambruson's routine had worked for them.
One user wrote: "'I've incorporated your evening routing into my routine the last couple weeks & my teeth look & feel sooooo nice."
Another added: "I have literally adopted your morning and evening routine and I looooveeeee using the water flosser ✨
Others, however, highlighted how a number of experts shared different advice, and one user wrote: "My dentist said never to replace regular floss with a water flosser 😭"
Another said: "Every dentist I have asked about oil pulling has emphatically said to not do it."
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