You might have heard over and over that brushing twice daily is optimal for your oral health, but then the question arises in your mind “Should I brush before or after the meals? ”
Let us help you to decide what is better for you.
Many factors come into play before selecting brushing before or after breakfast is better.
Brushing before breakfast
In our sleep, we do not produce much saliva for our oral cavity. This creates a favorable environment for the bacteria's living in our mouths to multiply. You might have noticed this surge in microbes as morning breath or a sticky feel on your teeth when you feel them with your tongue.
When you brush after bed before your breakfast you are going to remove this high number of bacteria and stimulate the salivary flow to bring back the optimal PH for your teeth to stay healthy.
In addition to this, fluoride in the toothpaste is going to create a protective film over your teeth which protects teeth from the acid attack caused by the breakfast. Most people include sugary or acidic food and beverages in their breakfast and brushing before the breakfast plays a protective role in this scenario.
After you brush your teeth, you might detect a minty or toothpaste taste that lingers. This sensation can be bothersome to some individuals, prompting them to rinse forcefully or scrub their teeth with a finger or toothbrush in an attempt to eliminate it. Regrettably, by doing so, you are disrupting the protective fluoride layer that you have just applied to your teeth. The ideal approach is to gently swish once after brushing to eliminate any extra toothpaste and debris.
Brushing after the breakfast
Some people prefer to brush after breakfast in the morning to remove the food debris from the breakfast. As, we have discussed earlier breakfast food and drinks like fruit juices, coffee, fruits, and table syrup that are sugary/acidic can weaken your enamel.
If you are immediately going to brush after breakfast you will harm your teeth by scrapping off more enamel since they are already weakened by the acid exposure. Thus, it is recommended to brush after 30-60 minutes after the breakfast. This waiting time is for the return of normal PH in your mouth from the salivary activity.
Brushing after breakfast has the major benefit of eliminating food debris from your breakfast and safeguarding your teeth against dental cavities. In both scenarios of brushing, it is best to rinse with water after eating. This assists in eliminating food debris and promoting the restoration of the ideal pH level in your mouth.
No matter when you decide to brush, it's crucial to use fluoride toothpaste and brush gently for 2 minutes. There's a common misconception that brushing harder and for longer is better for your teeth, but it can cause harm by eroding the enamel and potentially leading to sensitivity. Two minutes is the optimal duration for brushing. It's recommended to divide your teeth into four quadrants based on the midline - upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left. This ensures that you spend an equal 30 seconds on each quadrant during your 2-minute brushing routine, preventing over-brushing on one side and neglecting the other. It is also important not to miss brushing at night before bed after your meals and to floss.