There is a correct answer – and a dentist has shared what it is (Image: Getty)
It’s something everyone does daily – at least, hopefully they do. But when it comes to brushing your teeth, there’s one question that people still debate. Is it better to brush your teeth before breakfast, or after?
It’s a basic part of most people’s daily routine, but one question about toothbrushing still divides opinion: should you brush your teeth before breakfast or wait until after you’ve eaten?
Should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?
Many people feel brushing first thing is pointless if breakfast is coming straight after, while others can’t imagine beginning the day without doing it. To clear up the confusion, Dr Jyothi Chintamani of Dental Arch has shared the advice dentists typically give — and the reasoning behind it.
According to Dr Jyothi, the better choice is to brush before breakfast, even if that seems a little unexpected at first.
She explained that during the night, your mouth goes for hours without the usual cleansing support provided by saliva.
“Brushing first helps remove that build-up of plaque and bacteria before you start eating,” she said.
There is also a protective advantage for your teeth. As Dr Jyothi noted: “When you brush with fluoride toothpaste, you’re coating the teeth with fluoride before they’re exposed to food and drink.”
Some breakfast foods can damage your teeth (Image: Getty)
But you can still brush after breakfast
Many popular breakfast foods such as berries, coffee and fruit juice are acidic, even if they are considered healthy.
If you eat something acidic, it will soften your enamel and this means that brushing right after eating can wear your teeth down faster.
Rather than reaching for the toothbrush immediately after breakfast, Dr Jyothi recommends waiting.
They said: “If you prefer brushing after breakfast, try to leave at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
“This gives saliva time to neutralise acids and allows the enamel to recover.”
Many people are using mouthwash wrong (Image: Getty)
Should you rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth?
According to the NHS it is best not to rinse your mouth after brushing. Although you should spit out excess toothpaste, do not rinse with water as this will dilute the fluoride from the toothpaste and make it less effective.
It’s also not a good idea to rinse with mouthwash right after brushing – even if your mouthwash contains fluoride. The NHS said this washes away the concentrated fluoride from the toothpaste.
Mouthwash can be good to prevent tooth decay, but it’s a better idea to use mouthwash after lunch rather than after brushing your teeth.
Once you have used mouthwash, don’t eat or drink anything for half an hour.
