The Surprising Truth About When to Brush Your Teeth for Maximum Protection

When is the best time to brush your teeth?

Many people debate whether the best time to brush your teeth in the morning is before or after breakfast. Should you wait until after you eat or brush when you wake up to avoid morning breath? Is there one time that is better than another? The team at Staley Dental, your family dentist in Boise, ID, shares some insight into the best time to brush your teeth in the morning, and the answer might surprise you.

Why is brushing before breakfast better?

Many dentists will recommend that people brush their teeth when they first get up in the morning. This is because brushing first thing in the morning allows you to brush away overnight bacteria buildup, which is the leading cause of morning breath. Brushing your teeth before breakfast also helps to prepare your enamel for attacks from acid in the foods and drinks you consume.

This is especially true if you are using a toothpaste and mouthwash that are fortified with fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that helps to fortify the enamel on your teeth to make them stronger and more resistant to acids and bacteria that can cause cavities.

What happens if you brush your teeth after breakfast?

While some people think it is smart to brush your teeth immediately after you eat, that isn’t the case. This is because acidic foods, like juices and citrus fruit, can temporarily soften the tooth’s enamel. This means that if you brush your teeth immediately after meals, you can essentially be brushing away your tooth’s enamel over time.

If the tooth’s enamel is worn away, this will make teeth more susceptible to cavities and tooth decay. There is no way to grow new enamel on your teeth, so when it’s gone, it’s gone. That’s why the Staley Dental team recommends brushing your teeth before you have your morning meal.

Here are some tips for brushing your teeth after you eat.

If you feel the need to brush your teeth after meals, it’s important to wait at least 30 minutes after you eat before you think about brushing your teeth. This is because your mouth needs to get rid of any acids that may be built up in your mouth. To help this process, dentists recommend rinsing with water after you eat to help neutralize acids. Drinking water in general is recommended not only for hydration, but water also helps to balance the pH of your mouth, helping to reduce the acid within.

Here are some tips for proper brushing and flossing.

The best way to ensure your teeth are taken care of is by brushing them properly. But how exactly do you make sure you’re brushing the best you can?

At Staley Dental, we recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Adults should be using a soft-bristle manual or an electric toothbrush that fits their mouth, along with a pea-size amount of toothpaste when brushing. Make sure your toothpaste contains fluoride, as that helps to keep teeth strong.

When brushing your teeth, make sure to take care and brush all surfaces of your teeth. That means you need to be brushing the front, back, and tops of your teeth. To do this efficiently, we recommend that you hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle toward your gums and brush in small, gentle, circles to ensure you’re cleaning every part of your tooth’s surface. Don’t press too hard because you don’t want to wear out the tooth’s enamel or damage the gum tissue. Scrubbing too hard against your gumline can cause your gums to recede over time, and that can lead to sensitivity.

If you are unsure of what type of toothpaste or toothbrush to use, ask our team for recommendations. You can also look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal on products. The ADA seal means that the product meets the requirements for safety and efficacy and that dental professionals can confidently recommend those products for your oral health routine.

Flossing at least once a day should also be part of your normal dental routine. The proper way to floss involves starting with a piece of dental floss that is about 18 inches long and wrapping most of it around one middle finger, then a small amount around the other middle finger. The hand that has the least amount of dental floss will be the hand that takes on the used dental floss.

To begin flossing, hold the dental floss tightly between your index finger and thumb and then gently slide the dental floss between your teeth. Glide the dental floss up and down each side of your tooth, using a gentle rubbing motion to gently scrape away any plaque buildup. Once you are done between the first two teeth, slide the dental floss out, then wind a clean piece through your fingers. Repeat this process for every tooth in your mouth.

Visit Staley Dental twice a year!

Having a proper oral health care routine is key to a healthy smile, but you should also be visiting Boise’s Staley Dental at least twice a year for routine dental check-ups. Preventive dental care can catch any dental issues before they become big problems. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!