[ralusek]

Indians definitely still have certain specific hygiene practices that Westerners don't. Anybody who has worked at a large tech company will have taken note of the tooth brushes in the bathrooms. I found this to be very confusing at first, but then I noticed that a good amount of my Indian coworkers would brush their teeth after lunch.

[dartharva]

That is not something unique to India, nor is it a general practice here. You observed some isolated cases.

[zeroonetwothree]

I don’t think this is an Indian thing, western dentists recommend brushing teeth after each meal.

[tremon]

Curiously enough, mine doesn't. In fact, he explicitly recommends against it, since the tooth enamel is weakened by food and saliva, and brushing immediately after a meal scrapes off the weakened enamel.

Instead, he says it's best to wait half an hour between the meal and brushing the teeth.

[LtWorf]

But people just keep their brush in their own desk :D

[OJFord]

This Britisher brushes his teeth after lunch too, on the advice of his Polish dentist. (And not because they were in poor health or anything, just as a matter of policy, where did 2x daily come from, 3x is better, especially if you're eating 3x.)

(Now, even if I don't eat breakfast or lunch, which is quite typical, certainly not both, they'll start to feel unclean and I'll brush them before eating or drinking in the evening.)

[frostwarrior]

Wait, you people don't brush your teeth after lunch?

[honkdaddy]

Wait, you people bring a toothbrush and roll of toothpaste around with you everywhere? Do you only ever eat at your house or office?

[pmontra]

I'm a westerner and of course I brush my teeths after having had food. Why should I brush them if they are clean?

[NeoTar]

Interpreting “after having food” as immediately after eating (which may be unfair to you!) then the American Dental Association disagree with you:

> Brushing Right After Eating

> If you feel the need to clean your teeth after eating or drinking, wait at least 60 minutes before brushing—especially if you have had something acidic like lemons, grapefruit or soda. Drink water or chew sugarless gum with the ADA Seal of Acceptance to help clean your mouth while you are waiting to brush.

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/brushing-mistakes-slideshow

[watwut]

I have seen non Indians do it.