We all have a morning routine. For some it goes: breakfast, shower, brush teeth, then get dressed. For others it goes: brush teeth, shower, get dressed, then eat breakfast. While the rest go: snooze, snooze, snooze, then get dressed and go.
Have you ever noticed how people have a preference over whether they brush their teeth before or after breakfast? It’s understandable. Some people don’t like eating breakfast right after brushing, since it feels like you’re dirtying up what you’ve just cleaned. But others wake up and just can’t wait to get that gross morning taste out of their mouth and want to brush as soon as possible.
At Dakota Dental, we want you to consider what is best from an oral health and preventative dental care perspective. As it turns out, your best option to maintain healthy teeth is to brush right after you wake up, BEFORE eating breakfast and here’s why:
- Bacteria in your mouth can react with the food you eat by soaking up sugars and acid, which can cause cavities, tooth erosion, and tooth decay.
- Brushing right when you wake up starts your mouth back into its normal salivation process [insert drool emoji]. It also brings fluoride into your mouth to protect against those sugars and acids.
- Brushing after breakfast can actually be harmful. If you ate something acidic for breakfast, it makes your teeth more easily susceptible to tooth abrasion and sensitivity.
If you are reading this and thinking, “But what about bad breath or food in your teeth after breakfast?” Just be sure to rinse with a mouthwash after eating! If you are reading this and thinking, “But I don’t want to eat breakfast after brushing and have minty toothpaste messing with the taste of my food.” Try out some SLS free toothpaste, so you can have your breakfast and eat it too!
Of course, the most important way to take care of your teeth is by checking in with your family dentists at Dakota Dental regularly. They will help with any and all dental procedures from teeth cleaning to root canals to dental implants. See a complete list of dental services available at Dakota Dental, then be sure to schedule your appointment online or by calling 952-431-5774.