Before or After Breakfast?
You’ve heard it said many times: “Brush at least twice a day” for best oral health. The American Dental Association recommends it and our Placerville dentists say it daily! For most people, this means brushing in the morning, so many may wonder whether they should brush before or after breakfast? For such a seemingly simple question, there’s a lot of strong opinions and various Internet answers. This question need not be another “chicken or the egg” question. The Placerville Dental Group has an answer!
Many start their mornings with coffee or tea, mildly acidic beverages that still can erode tooth enamel. Even though tooth enamel that is one of the hardest substances in your body, it is susceptible to erosion when not taken care of properly. Sugar consumption also effects oral health and accelerates tooth decay. Since Americans consume a lot of sugar, breakfast is more like morning dessert than a healthy start to the day.
What does that mean for brushing before or after? Acids created during eating promote plaque production and tooth decay. Brushing immediately after drinking your morning coffee and eating that Danish does more harm than good, because acidic foods and beverages weaken tooth enamel. Brushing right after breakfast, or any meal, scrubs off enamel rather than protecting your teeth. So it’s best to start your day by brushing your teeth first, getting rid of plaque and morning breath, and then eat breakfast. Afterwards, drink some water, swish out your mouth and then brush again, as usual. This might require an adjustment to your morning routine, but it helps to protect your teeth!
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