Brushing your teeth is an essential part of your oral hygiene together with flossing and regular dentist appointments. As you probably know already, you need to brush your teeth twice a day, for 2 minutes.
However, brushing your teeth two times a day is just part of the equation for great dental hygiene. You also need to do it correctly and part of correct brushing is knowing when to brush.
Establishing a routine for morning and evening brushing will create the habit of keeping your teeth and mouth consistently clean.
But, here's a question you may find yourself asking: should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?
Let's find out!
Tooth Brushing: Before or After Breakfast
There have been studies that indicate that it might be more beneficial to brush your teeth before breakfast.
This is because the bacteria in our mouth grows during the night which is why you may wake up with bad breath every morning.
The bacteria is not only responsible for morning breath, but for plaque formation too. By brushing before breakfast, you don’t allow the bacteria from breakfast add to the plaque already formed. Brushing your teeth before breakfast also lowers the risk that the enamel will be damaged.
Brushing your teeth before breakfast not only eliminates some of those bacteria but also creates a protective layer for the tooth enamel. This protection serves the purpose of keeping the acid in the foods we ingest from damaging your teeth and leading to decay.
If you prefer brushing your teeth after breakfast, wait for around 30 minutes to avoid the acid in the breakfast foods and beverages to attack the enamel. For the time being, you can drink water or chew some sugar-free gum.
Brushing your teeth before breakfast can also help produce more saliva, which in turn helps with digestion and kills the bacteria in the mouth.
Conclusion
Other factors can influence the best time to brush your teeth, and you can always talk to your dentist about it.
Overall, the most important thing is to brush your teeth. But keep in mind that it is best to wait at least 30 minutes after you have eaten so that you prevent the acid in the food from attacking your teeth. These rules stay true both for children and adults.
If you would like to learn more about how to take care of your kid's teeth, then we are welcoming you to Marshfield Pediatric Dentistry.
We are a compassionate pediatric practice with a family-friendly environment focused on making sure your child will get the right care and treatment.
You can contact us today, talk to us and visit our practice. We are prepared to give your child quality dental care so that their smiles will shine brightly!
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