Should I brush my teeth before or after breakfast?

More surprising teeth brushing tips everyone should know.

If only it were just brushing teeth, it would be fun!

Just like the debate about whether it is healthier to shower during the day or at night, brushing your teeth before or after breakfast is always a controversial topic.

On the one hand, if you brush your teeth before breakfast, you get rid of all the bacteria that are making your mouth stink. But on the other hand, if you brush your teeth after breakfast, all the leftover food particles will be removed along with the bacteria that are growing there.

So when is the best time?

First, let's look at what's going on in our mouths while we sleep and why morning breath is always so terrible.

“Your mouth rests along with the rest of your body – at night everything slows down,” says Professor Marc Tennant, director of the Centre for International Oral and Public Health Research at the University of Western Australia.

"The main change in your mouth is that less saliva is produced at night. 80-90% of saliva in a day is produced during the day, only 10-15% will be secreted at night"

Saliva plays an important role in maintaining oral health and protecting tooth enamel. Reduced saliva production at night also means that teeth and gums are at greater risk of decay and infection.

“Bacteria in the mouth will have a chance to grow when saliva is not produced. And that is why your mouth smells bad when you wake up.”

Sugar also stimulates bad bacteria to grow, so Tennant recommends avoiding eating a lot of sweets before bed.

“Saliva flow is reduced at night and if you eat a lot of sugar, you are feeding the bacteria. You are at a very high risk of tooth decay.”

So is it best to brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

According to Tennant, this is entirely up to you.

“See if brushing before or after breakfast feels comfortable for you. And follow your heart,” says Tennant.

“Because the purpose of brushing is to ‘disrupt’ bacterial growth and create an opportunity for good bacteria to flourish, it is important to know when you like to brush your teeth.”

If you have bad breath when you wake up, brush your teeth before breakfast. If you like to leave the house feeling clean and fresh, brush your teeth after breakfast.

However, if your breakfast is highly acidic, such as a large glass of orange juice or pineapple juice, you probably shouldn't brush your teeth right away.

“If you eat very acidic foods, give your enamel time to settle. Food and wine can neutralize the acidity of the juice.

“If you vomit, put some toothpaste on your teeth and wait 20-30 minutes before brushing.

“Brush your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste and brush each tooth surface, the part that comes into contact with the gums, to make brushing really effective,” says Mr. Tennant.

According to Dantri