InkBlog

Brushing your teeth is (hopefully) something you do at least twice a day like clockwork. But do you prefer to roll straight out of bed and freshen up, or wait until after you've had your coffee fix and breakfast before brushing your teeth?

Much like whether you choose to shower in the morning or at night, when you brush your teeth is a personal preference - but there's actually an optimal option.

After a heated office debate, we decided to call on Dr Rhona Eskander to determine whether it's better to brush your teeth before or after breakfast - and let's just say we are shook.

Should we brush our teeth before or after breakfast?

It's the age-old debate: should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

“Brushing before breakfast is the key,” says Dr Rhona. Here are her reasons why:

Bacterial removal: Overnight, the mouth accumulates bacteria, leading to the production of plaque and potential bad breath. Brushing before breakfast helps to remove this bacteria build-up before you start your day.

Acid protection: Many breakfast foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits and juices, are acidic. Brushing immediately after consuming acidic foods can lead to the abrasive removal of enamel, which has been softened by the acid. Brushing before breakfast, particularly with a fluoride toothpaste, can help to protect the teeth by providing a barrier against these acids.

Tooth sensitivity: If you brush before eating, you avoid the potential of experiencing tooth sensitivity that might occur if you brush immediately after consuming hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and beverages.

Fluoride effectiveness: When you brush your teeth and then wait a while before eating or drinking, the fluoride from the toothpaste has more time to bond with the tooth enamel, potentially offering better protection.

Avoiding sugar: Brushing before eating can remove any residual sugars and bacteria left on your teeth from the previous day, reducing the possibility of cavities.

However, if someone prefers or is used to brushing after breakfast, she says it's commonly recommended to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush, particularly if they’ve consumed something acidic. “This allows the saliva to neutralise acids and the enamel to reharden, reducing the risk of brushing away softened enamel. Always consult with a dental professional for personalised advice and guidance,” she adds.

Now you've determined the correct time to brush your teeth, Mayur N Pandya, Dentist and Chief Clinical Officer of Together Dental, and Oral-B Expert/ Dentist, TikTok's the Singing Dentist, Milad Shadrooh, have shared all the essential teeth-cleaning hacks you need in your life.

Use a good fluoride toothpaste

You need is a pea-sized amount of good fluoride toothpaste. Adults should use a toothpaste that contains at least 1,450 parts per million (ppm) fluoride. At night time, try not to rinse after brushing to leave a reservoir of fluoride which will help to remineralise tooth enamel and prevent cavities. During the day, after meals, use an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash to keep your enamel strong.

The 45 degree rule

Place the head of your toothbrush against your lower teeth, and then tilt the bristles to a 45 degree angle against the gum line. Try and keep angle throughout the brush which gives better leverage to remove plaque and germs.

Small circular movements

Move the brush in small circular movements several times over the surfaces of every tooth. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth first, and then go in and do the occlusal surface (inside) in nice circular motions all the way around. Move up to the upper set of teeth and repeat the small circular movements on the outside teeth first keeping the bristles angled against the gum line. To clean inside the surfaces of the front teeth tip the toothbrush vertically and make several small strokes up and down with the front part of the brush.

Always brush your tongue

The tongue carries both good and bad bacteria but its close proximity to the back of your throat means that it can potentially harbour viruses present in that area. Brushing your tongue helps to freshen breath and clean your mouth of any bacteria. Stick your tongue out and make several long strokes across your tongue to give it a good clean.

Clean in the right order

While many of us would automatically brush first, floss second and rinse last, dentists are advising that we need to completely reorder our steps.

In fact, you should do the exact reverse of the above. Start with a rinse with mouthwash to kickstart salivary glands, which helps to protect the gums from harmful bacteria. You should never rinse after brushing as it can wash away some of the helpful ingredients in toothpaste.

Next, floss to remove debris or food that has become wedged between teeth. Finally, brush with toothpaste for two minutes.

Clean in between your teeth

Whether you use dental floss, floss picks, interdental brushes or an oral irrigator, you've got to do something to get in between your teeth. “I would recommend doing this before brushing your teeth because the more you can clean away the debris from in between the teeth, then the better the chance of your toothpaste getting in between the teeth and the fluoride entering the hard to reach places,” advises Milad.

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