By Karen Phan, Staff Writer
I felt a little weirded out and disgusted when I found out that some of my friends brush their teeth after eating breakfast. All my life, I’ve brushed my teeth before eating breakfast. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Here’s what the experts say.
According to an article from dental company and blog quip, timing matters when it comes to brushing your teeth because of your enamel. The enamel is the hard outer shell that surrounds your teeth. It primarily protects the teeth from decay caused by acids and dental plaque. Your body cannot create more enamel when it’s destroyed.
Dental plaque, which is made up of saliva, food and other bacteria, is always in your mouth, but it accumulates on the enamel overnight. When you eat breakfast without brushing your teeth, the bacteria in the plaque reacts with the carbohydrates and sugar in your food and drink to create acids, states an article from Solon Orthodontics. These acids harm your gums and make your teeth more susceptible to cavities, tooth decay and other oral health problems.
Even worse, brushing your teeth right after eating is the same as “scrubbing a cleaning detergent on your enamel” said Dr. Mitali Hariawala, a Dental Community Manager at quip. Again, this weakens the enamel and can lead to tooth decay and oral health problems.
To maintain good dental hygiene, many experts agree that brushing your teeth before you eat breakfast is the best option. Doing so resets your mouth to its normal salvation process and gets rid of the plaque build-up, according to Dakota Dental. Without that thick layer of plaque on your teeth, you can stuff your face with a breakfast tornado from our cafeteria without worrying about weakening your enamel.
It is, of course, okay to brush your teeth after eating breakfast. Colgate and Mayo Clinic suggest you should rinse your mouth with water and wait for at least 20 to 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth. Solon Orthodontics says your enamel needs time to “remineralize” before you can safely brush. It’s especially important to wait if you’ve consumed anything acidic such as orange juice.
Timing applies to all other meals as well. It might feel good to get rid of the gunk in your mouth right after lunch and dinner, but consider waiting a while before brushing to protect your enamel. And if you’re someone who brushes after eating breakfast, consider changing your morning routine just a bit.
