According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two whole minutes each time. However, they do not have a recommendation for what time of day works best. Most people brush right before bed, but in the morning, it differs a little bit more. Even though you may not prefer to have minty toothpaste in your mouth before drinking orange juice, some experts suggest that it may be the best option for the health of your smile. Continue reading to learn more from your family dentist in Center about why before breakfast is the best time of the morning for you to brush.
Why Should You Brush Your Teeth Before Breakfast?
At some point in your life, you have probably experienced morning breath. This occurs because when you are sleeping, plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth multiply and leave an unpleasant taste and odor for you to encounter when you wake up. Brushing your teeth right away when you wake up helps to rid your teeth of this harmful plaque and bacteria. Brushing also coats your teeth with a protective barrier against the acids in your food.
Another reason that brushing teeth before breakfast may be a better idea is because you should wait at least 30 minutes after eating acidic foods. So, if you are eating, brushing your teeth, and then rushing out the door, you could be damaging your enamel which has been softened by your morning toast, juice, or coffee.
Can You Still Brush Your Teeth After Breakfast?
If brushing your teeth after breakfast makes more sense for your routine, that is okay. However, you should be taking precautions so that you don’t wear down your protective enamel. Here are a few popular breakfast foods that are particularly harmful if you brush your teeth immediately afterwards:
- Dried fruit
- Fruit Juice
- Citrus fruit
- Pastries
- Bread
Breakfast foods like omelets, yogurt, and whole grain cereals tend to be better options to start your morning. If you can, wait between 30 minutes and an hour before brushing your teeth after breakfast to make sure you aren’t hurting your protective enamel. Drinking some water or chewing sugar-free gum is a good way to clean your teeth after you eat and before you brush your teeth in the morning.
In conclusion, before breakfast is the best time to brush your teeth in the morning. But if you take the right precautions, you can make brushing after breakfast work too. This way, you can keep your enamel safe from harm.
About the Practice
At Family Dental Center of East Texas, you have both a children’s and family dentist using their expertise to treat patients. Dr. Thomas Youngblood earned his DDS from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School. Dr. Mireya Martinez graduated from the Texas A&M College of Dentistry. They are both members of the American Dental Association and Texas Dental Association. For more information on proper oral hygiene or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (936) 427-9070.
There are two main camps when it comes to morning brushing: Those who wake up thinking, "Ew, I gotta get this sticky stuff off my teeth right now," and those who prefer to brush away the crumbs from breakfast.
Whichever camp you're in, you may not have put much thought into when you brush your teeth each morning. But turns out, it matters: Whether you brush your teeth before or after breakfast has a profound impact on the health of your pearly whites, and it depends largely on what you eat and drink in the first few hours of your day.
When to brush your teeth in the morning
You brush your teeth once in the morning and once at night. Those guidelines established by the American Dental Association have been in place for what seems like forever, and they're the bare minimum for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. However, the twice-a-day rule doesn't tell you anything about timing.
Madison Kaplan, a registered dental hygienist in California, says she encourages all of her patients to brush after breakfast. It's the best way to ensure removal of food debris and beverages that can stain your teeth, she says.
Brushing after breakfast, instead of before, means your teeth are free of food particles for more of the day, which means the bacteria in your mouth have less time to metabolize sugars and cause cavities or enamel decay.
If, however, you consume acidic foods or beverages for breakfast, it may be better to brush before breakfast. Brushing your teeth after consuming something acidic, such as coffee or fruit, can harm the enamel of your teeth. For this reason, the American Dental Association recommends waiting 60 minutes after eating those foods to brush your teeth.
If you don't have time to wait around for an hour to brush after breakfast (for instance, if you eat on the way to work), swish with water so food doesn't stay lodged between the teeth and drinks that have staining potential don't sit there all day, Kaplan encourages. "The more you can flush out food and bacteria, the more optimal oral health you will achieve," she points out.
What about coffee?
Many people have been taught to brush their teeth after drinking coffee in order to reduce or prevent staining. Coffee is extremely acidic, however, and "one of the biggest concerns when brushing after consuming something acidic is erosion to the enamel," Kaplan says.
"Even though enamel is one of the hardest structures of your body, most similar to the calcium content in our bones, the physical action of brushing can weaken the tooth structure," she explains.
"The bristles rub the acid into the porous enamel of the teeth, which can cause permanent damage over time," Kaplan says. If you want to brush after drinking coffee as a stain-prevention method, wait about 30 minutes after you're done. This gives your mouth time to neutralize and wash away the acids from the coffee so that you don't rub those acids into your enamel with a toothbrush.
Another way to prevent staining is to drink all your coffee for the day in one sitting rather than sipping on multiple small cups throughout the day, Kaplan says. "The consistent sipping promotes constant acid exposure and the increased risk of staining potential since the teeth don't have an opportunity to recover throughout the day."
And orange juice?
The concern about brushing your teeth after drinking orange juice is the same as that of coffee: the acidity. Just like brushing after coffee, brushing after orange juice can contribute to enamel erosion, resulting in weaker teeth over time.
Anyone who's ever brushed their teeth and then drunk orange juice knows just how unpleasant the beverage tastes in a minty mouth. If you can't give up orange juice at breakfast, try brushing first and then swishing with water when you're done. Using floss picks can help you remove food debris without the abrasiveness of brushing.
Can you brush both before and after breakfast?
Brushing before and after breakfast or coffee is one way to get rid of icky morning mouth and also remove food debris after your first meal. Kaplan urges people to be mindful of over-brushing though.
"There is such a thing as over-brushing, and it can wear away the gums," Kaplan says. If you want to brush your teeth before and after breakfast, focus on good brushing technique, which is crucial to prevent trauma to the gums or gum recession, she says.
"You are only removing the bacteria and any food particles that have accumulated since the previous brush and flossing session, so it shouldn't need to be so intense," Kaplan explains. "Gentle pressure, a slow pace and the proper brush head are key to prevention [of gum recession]."
The important thing is keeping your teeth and gums clean throughout the day, Kaplan says, and timing will look different for different people. "Getting in between the teeth daily -- sometimes multiple times a day, depending on your dental needs and dental history -- helps prevent food impaction, gum trauma and cavities over time," she says.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.