Dentists recommend brushing the teeth twice a day. But when exactly should you brush your teeth? Read through to find out more.
Should you brush before or after breakfast?
You should brush once in the morning and once at night. In the morning, the best time to brush is before breakfast. Here are the reasons why.
- Brushing first thing in the morning gets rid of the overnight bacteria build-up.
- It can get rid of the bad taste in your mouth and morning breath caused by bacteria.
- Brushing jumpstarts your saliva production. The saliva helps in washing away food debris and fights bacteria.
Tooth brushing before breakfast has other benefits depending on what you eat. Many breakfast favorites are very acidic, like coffee, bread, and citrus fruits. These acids weaken the tooth enamel.
When you brush after an acidic meal, you are unintentionally damaging your enamel. The fluoride in your toothpaste also gives your teeth protection against acids.
Why should you brush your teeth before bed?
At night, it is best to brush your teeth before bed. Not brushing allows the plaque to build up overnight. These plaques can harden on and between your teeth. It also hardens along the gum line which may cause periodontitis.
Your mouth also produces less saliva when you’re asleep. Less saliva increases acid levels. High acid levels wear away your tooth enamel. The fluoride on the toothpaste also protects your teeth and maintains the saliva level in your mouth.
Additionally, brushing before bed gets rid of food debris left from your dinner. This food debris feeds bacteria and causes cavities. Rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash also adds extra protection.
Is it good to brush your teeth after you eat?
The answer depends on what you eat. Most people think that brushing right after eating is good for their teeth. But here are the things to remember.
- You can brush right after taking a sugary food or drink.
The cavity-causing bacteria love sugar. At least 20 minutes after your meal, these bacteria produce acids that damage your enamel. Brushing gets rid of these sugar and other food particles.
- Do not brush after eating acidic food.
As said above, brushing after eating acidic food may do more harm than good. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush at least an hour after taking acidic food. This is to let saliva return your mouth to its natural pH level. Saliva naturally washes away food particles as well.
Dentists recommend brushing twice a day. However, a recent study shows that brushing your teeth more than twice a day can prevent gum disease. You can brush any time of the day when you noticed a bad taste in your mouth.
Common Tooth Brushing Mistakes and How to Fix Them
The timing is an important part of tooth brushing. But here are common mistakes that people do and think are normal. Fortunately, there’s a way to fix these mistakes.
- Using the wrong toothbrush.
When picking a toothbrush, some people might consider the price and design. Some also choose a toothbrush with hard bristles because they believe it can remove plaques better. But the American Dental Association suggests using a soft-bristled toothbrush. This removes plaque effectively without harming your teeth and gums.
It is also important to consider the toothbrush head size. This is to ensure that the brush can comfortably reach all surfaces of your teeth. Also, choose a toothbrush with a comfortable handle.
- Brushing too hard.
A common mistake people make is brushing too hard. But when it comes to your teeth, harder is not better. Plaques are soft so you can remove them without going too hard.
You can fix this mistake by thinking that you are just “massaging” your teeth instead of “brushing” them. But make sure that you “massage” for two minutes.
You should brush your teeth for two minutes. But sometimes, you might cut it short when they’re late or too lazy to brush properly. Do not do this. Rush brushing may not effectively remove all the plaques and food debris.
The best way to make sure you spend two minutes brushing is to set a timer. You can also play a song while brushing and use it as your timer. Choose a song that is 2 to 3 minutes long. This way, you can enjoy the song while brushing your teeth long enough.
- You hold on for too long.
When you found a good toothbrush, it might be hard to give up. But your teeth will suffer if you hold onto that brush for too long. When the bristles become bent, discolored, or dirty looking, it is time to get a new one. Bristles lose their effectiveness when it’s frayed. It can also be a home for bacteria if used for too long.
So it is recommended that you change your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. You can do it sooner if you got ill or when the bristles got frayed.
- Going back and forth.
The most common mistake is brushing left to right, back and forth. Doing this can damage your teeth instead of protecting them.
Again, think of brushing as “massaging”. To do it properly, start from your gum and go up and down in a circular motion. Make sure to brush every surface of your teeth.
- Forgetting your tongue and gum line.
Plaques and bacteria often stick along your gum line. And this area is often missed.
To do it properly, angle your toothbrush 45-degrees against your gum line and brush gently. Then tilt your brush and go up and down. Do this to clean between your teeth. Don’t forget to brush your tongue to get rid of the bacteria.
- Brushing too soon.
Sometimes it’s tempting to brush immediately after eating. But when you ate acidic food, do not brush right away. Wait for at least 30 minutes. You can also rinse with water before you brush to get rid of the acids.
Takeaway
It is given that you should brush twice a day. But timing is important.
In the morning, you should brush before taking your breakfast. This is to get rid of the bacteria that built up overnight.
In the evening, you should brush your teeth before going to bed. This is to give your teeth protection while you sleep.
There are also common mistakes that people do. Being aware of these mistakes and correcting them ensures that you give your teeth maximum protection.