You wake up, stumble to the bathroom and reach for your toothbrush. Then you pause to think: do I brush before or after breakfast? Doesn’t really matter much, does it? You’ll end up brushing your teeth anyway.
News flash – it does matter. While many people get it wrong, without even realising it, the truth is that this seemingly insignificant decision can quietly affect your dental health.
What Happens in Your Mouth Overnight
When you are sleeping, the bacteria in your mouth wake up.
Saliva production drops and your mouth becomes dry. Why is this important? Saliva helps neutralise acids produced by bacteria in your mouth. So, when saliva production drops overnight, this is the kind of environment in which bacteria thrive. They multiply and coat your teeth with a sticky white film called plaque by the time your alarm goes off in the morning.
So brushing in the morning isn’t just about feeling fresh and getting rid of bad breath, it’s also about getting rid of the bacteria coating your teeth.
Brushing Before Breakfast vs Brushing After Breakfast
It turns out that the order in which you eat and brush your teeth affects your health. Here’s what is best.
Brushing Before Breakfast
When you brush your teeth before breakfast, you are doing a few things right.
- For starters, you are clearing out the bacteria that built up overnight in your mouth before they have a chance to feast on your food.
- Secondly, you are coating your teeth in fluoride from your toothpaste. This fluoride prevents bacteria from feasting on the sugars in your breakfast and producing acids that weaken the enamel. It gives the fluoride time to settle in and form a protective layer over your teeth.
Not to mention, you are also saying goodbye to morning breath (if that isn’t motivation alone).
Many dental professionals, including the Australian Dental Association, recommend brushing before breakfast. As we saw above, science backs it up too.
The fluoride in your toothpaste needs time to settle and do its job. So, brushing before you eat means the fluoride is already there, working on protecting your teeth. It’s like putting on sunscreen before you go outside. Not after you are already sunburnt.
Brushing After Breakfast
For many, brushing after breakfast is a thing. It probably feels like a mental hug to know there are no food particles stuck between your teeth after a hearty breakfast.
However, there’s a problem with brushing your teeth after breakfast. Many breakfast foods are often acidic – everything from fruit juice to coffee and even jam on toast. When you have breakfast, these acids temporarily soften your enamel.
If you eat and grab a toothbrush straightaway in a rush to get out of the house, you are also scrubbing away some of that softened enamel, not just brushing your teeth. You are literally wearing down your enamel.
While you won’t see any consequences any time soon, the damage can compound over time. The result? Tooth sensitivity and teeth that are more vulnerable to decay. Plus, you can’t recover lost enamel. It’s gone for good.
This is why we advise brushing before breakfast.
But if you absolutely must brush after breakfast, here’s something you can do. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating. We recommend waiting at least 30 minutes. This gives time for saliva to neutralise the acids and also for your enamel to re-harden, reducing the risk of damage.
Should I Brush My Teeth Before or After Breakfast?
Brushing before breakfast is the smartest move you can make for your smile. It removes bacteria from your mouth, freshens your breath and provides fluoride protection for your teeth.
It might seem like a simple, inconsequential task. But it can make a significant difference to your smile in the long run.
If you are worried about the minty aftertaste in your mouth and how it will clash with your morning coffee, don’t worry. It fades in just minutes.
Bonus Tip: Chew sugar-free chewing gum after eating to stimulate saliva production, which naturally washes away acids and food particles in your mouth.
Whether you brush before or after breakfast, the basics still matter. Brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes each. Use fluoride toothpaste and floss your teeth daily. And don’t forget to visit your dentist for regular check-ups.
Got more questions? Contact our friendly team at Ashgrove Dental.
