When do you brush your teeth? If you’re listening to Dr. Abelar, it’s at least twice a day, for two minutes at a time (and flossing at least once a day!). But there are varied opinions on exactly when you should be brushing your teeth. Some say right after dinner, while others say right before bed. Similarly, many wonder if it’s better to brush before breakfast or after breakfast.
Well, we’ve got some answers for you. The good news is that it’s pretty easy to take care of your night brushing, since you probably wouldn’t brush your teeth before dinner, any time after dinner and before bed should suffice- as well as that flossing we mentioned above.
But your morning brushing is another story. While some swear by brushing before breakfast, others prefer to do so after, but experts recommend brushing before breakfast.
It may seem counterintuitive to some – after all, you’ll have food debris in your mouth after eating, but it really is better to brush your teeth before you eat. Here’s why.
When you brush your teeth before eating, you are essentially coating the teeth with fluoride, which protects the enamel of your teeth. Unfortunately, for those who enjoy an ice cold glass of orange juice with breakfast, the taste of toothpaste doesn’t exactly improve with that minty fresh flavor in your mouth, but hear us out.
You see, when you drink highly acidic drinks like orange juice, you are softening the tooth enamel, which can weaken the teeth temporarily. Brushing immediately after drinking acidic drinks can permanently scratch or damage your enamel, so if you must brush after eating, wait at least 30 minutes. Or, you could just brush first. This is because your fluoride toothpaste is protecting your enamel, so that orange juice you love so much? It can’t harm your teeth as much as it could, had you not brushed first.
Furthermore, brushing increases the saliva in your mouth within about five minutes of brushing, and saliva is extremely important for keeping our mouths healthy and clean, because it not only washes away food and bacteria, it keeps the mouth moisturized and the breath fresh.
So if you’re on the fence about when to brush, try brushing before you eat breakfast. Remember, the important thing is that you brush – but be sure to wait 30 minutes after eating if you can!
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Abelar, please contact the office today!
