If you’ve ever been bent over the bathroom sink in the morning, and wondered if you were doing it right, then you are not alone. In fact, a huge amount of people are unsure whether they should be brushing their teeth before or after breakfast (or other meals). And while for some this concern doesn’t ever move them to check, we’re writing this for those who do bother.
Shine Dental Care believes in proper maintenance and care for your teeth, and this doesn’t just mean regular dentist appointments, but also properly caring for your teeth at home. So how can you do that?
Taking your time
Yes, we all know how difficult it can be to make time for a proper care routine, especially in the morning, when most people tend to be rushed, and snarky. And yet, if we want to ensure the utmost health and welfare of our teeth, it’s important that we do not neglect a good dental care routine in the morning.
Drinking Water
A very important, and often overlooked, step that should be part of our morning routine is the intake of water. You’ve probably heard it said that you should be drinking a full glass of water every morning, to hydrate your body, and you may well be skipping that, in favor of tea, coffee, or orange juice. While those are all good and well, they should not be replacing water in your morning diet. Water acts as a potent diuretic, which in turn contributes to your overall health. Not only that, it serves to rinse the teeth and mouth, and improves hydration levels which, in turn, work to keep a glowing dental health level.
Brush your teeth.
Some people may think that they don’t need to brush their teeth in the morning if they haven’t eaten anything overnight, but this is not entirely true. While there are differing opinions on this topic, it is generally recommended to brush your teeth before breakfast, especially if you have veneers that you want to keep looking clean and shiny. This helps remove any bacteria that has accumulated in your mouth overnight, which can increase the risk of gum disease, infection, and other dental issues if left to sit. Therefore, it is best to brush your teeth in the morning after waking up and before eating breakfast to avoid adding to the bacterial accumulation.
Should you also brush after?
Some people are big proponents of brushing your teeth after you eat, so as to remove food debris, and also neutralize smell. That’s a good idea for other meals, like lunch, or dinner, but for breakfast, it can be too much, too soon.
If you’re planning on brushing before and after breakfast, make sure you allow for at least 60 minutes to pass between the two brushing sessions, to allow the pH of your mouth to rebalance itself.