Is There a Right Time to Brush Your Teeth?

It’s been ingrained in pretty much everyone that regular brushing and flossing is essential for optimal oral hygiene. Twice daily, first thing in the morning and just before bed, is the traditionally practiced routine. But have you ever thought about the time you brush your teeth? Well, further research has found that there are actual ideal times to brush your teeth, including when and what food you eat. Read on to see how you should be scheduling your routine.

When eating acidic or sugary foods

What usually comes to mind when we think of these foods are cakes, sweets and soft drinks – those desserts we usually consider “treats”. But sugary and acidic foods also include most breakfast spreads. Processed fruit juices, teas and coffees, sugary breakfast cereals, and a vast array of other breakfast alternatives can cause the enamel on your teeth to weaken and the bacteria in your mouth to drop pH levels to below normal. This makes the enamel soften, so once you get to brushing your teeth, you might just scrub away that enamel, leaving your teeth with far less protection. To prevent this, it is good practise to resist brushing for at least 30 minutes after enjoying any of those sugary/acidic foods and drinks.

Before or after eating breakfast?

Most people choose to brush after they’ve had breakfast in the morning. And it makes sense, right? Why wouldn’t you clean your teeth after you’ve just used them?

But actually, if you choose to brush before, you eradicate the bacteria existing in your mouth before it can produce acid once feeding on your breakfast. This will limit your pH levels, as well as injecting much needed fluoride.

Cleaning after eating is not necessarily bad, as it removes food particles that carry more bacteria from your mouth. But to prevent over brushing, consider brushing before breakfast, and if you’re after a minty freshness after food, try a sugar free gum or mint-infused water.

The bedtime brush

Maybe you’ve gotten home late and just want to collapse into bed. Maybe it’s winter and the idea of getting up just to brush sends shivers down your spine. Though you may be inclined to forget that pre-bed brush, brushing and flossing before bed is crucial to dispel as much bacteria gathered throughout the day, as it will otherwise amass in deposits with more bacteria that will develop whilst you sleep. If you skip the evening brush, you’re going to find it much harder to remove existing bacteria on top of the bacteria developed overnight. So make sure your evening brush is a rule, not a suggestion.