Everyone should brush their teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed. While many people enjoy starting their day with fresh breath after a thorough brushing, there is much debate over whether one should brush before or after eating breakfast. Here’s why brushing before breakfast is better for your oral health and why you should wait at least thirty minutes after eating before brushing.
When Should I Brush My Teeth in the Morning?
While nobody wants to drink orange juice with that minty fresh taste still in their mouth, it is better for your oral health if you brush before breakfast. Brushing not only removes bacteria and food debris while polishing your teeth; it also creates a barrier that will protect your teeth against acid.
Saliva helps break down food and flush your mouth clean while also naturally killing harmful oral bacteria. Brushing increases saliva production briefly, preparing your mouth to efficiently and cleanly chew breakfast.
What’s So Bad About Brushing My Teeth After Breakfast?
Many people prefer to brush their teeth after breakfast. While this is still a fair option, it’s important to take a few precautions to avoid harming your enamel. If your breakfast contains acidic foods like orange juice, bread, pastries, citrus, or dried fruit, brushing immediately after eating can spread this acid around your teeth and press it into the enamel. If you prefer to brush after breakfast, wait for thirty minutes to an hour after eating so that your mouth has time to clean itself and remineralize your teeth.
If you’d like fresher breath while waiting to brush your teeth after eating, chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to stimulate saliva production and help clear away food debris. It’s also a great idea to drink plenty of water to promote saliva flow and flush debris and harmful chemicals away from the teeth.
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but your teeth play a big part in eating it. By brushing your teeth before breakfast, you can help keep your teeth free of oral infections while minimizing enamel erosion.
About the Author
Dr. Craig R. Harder earned his dental doctorate at Creighton University and has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education courses. He is also a contributing author for Dental Economics, the world’s leading journal of practice management in the dental field. His office in Moses Lake, WA offers general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more oral hygiene tips, contact the office online or dial (509) 765-4351.