Should You Brush Your Teeth Before Or After Breakfast?
It's confusing, isn't it - when to have that first brush of the day?
Do you do it:
- Before: Clear away the debris of the night and start afresh
- After: Enjoy fresh teeth and breath to start the working day
Whilst many would err on the side of the ‘before’ argument, really, the answer depends on whether you have fruit or fruit juice in the morning.
Common breakfast-related citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits contain acidic elements. This means that these acids can weaken tooth enamel and, when closely followed by brushing, this enamel can potentially be damaged.
Using fluoride toothpaste in your pre-breakfast brushing, however, forms a protective coating before handling the demands of the day’s first meal.
And if your breakfast is citrus fruit-free? Then the difference isn’t significant. Nevertheless, we always recommend leaving it at least 30 minutes to allow any acids to dissipate from the mouth.
Tips For Maintaining Great Oral Health
- Brush teeth at least twice per day using a manual or electric toothbrush.
- Brush for a minimum of two minutes.
- It is essential to brush the whole of the mouth, especially targeting back molars and the gumline where plaque will secretly build up on both inside and outside surfaces.
- Use dental floss or an interdental brush (e.g. TePe) before bed to target the small gaps at the root
- Replace your toothbrush (or toothbrush head) once the bristles start to splay
- Establish a daily routine and it will quickly become automatic
- Schedule regular appointments with a dental hygienist
Despite our best efforts, sometimes nature plays a role in our health, causing things we cannot easily control. This is especially true in the mouth, where sneaky things can develop that cannot be seen with the naked eye. By making regular visits to your dentist, you can maintain optimal tooth and gum health for a long time to come.
Life Dental and Wellbeing
At Life Dental and Wellbeing practice, we pride ourselves on the highest level of dental care. We fill our practice with empathetic, highly driven and passionate staff whose aim is to make your visit as pain-free and productive as possible.
This is aided by a highly experienced and diligent team, whose tireless efforts make us a leading influence in the ranks of Exeter dental practices.
Stay safe and we wish you great oral health!
