If you clean your teeth first thing in the morning, and then eat breakfast, surely that's bad for your teeth?

Question

Surely the sensible thing to do would be to eat breakfast and then clean your teeth or otherwise the plaque will sit on your teeth all day? I am having a debate about this with my other half. He thinks it wouldn't make any difference which way round he does it.

Answer 1

Plaque is formed by bacteria. Bacteria is naturally present in everyone's mouth and "feeds" off the sugars and carbs in your food - it colonizes in a sticky white substance on your teeth. That is what plaque is. If you don't brush after your meals then the bacteria has a food source to nourish it. Therefore you should brush after breakfast and preferably after lunch and dinner.
As far as "swallowing" it and making you sick - you swallow bacteria and plaque all day long. Every time your cheeks, lips and tongue moves, you are washing down plaque. You also swallow other people's plaque and bacteria when kissing.
The best time to brush is after breakfast. After lunch if possible. Lastly, before bed - Brush and Floss. The mouth dries out while sleeping and your bacteria becomes more damaging when it dries out. Saliva acts as a buffer because of enzymes it contains.
Brushing should be gentle but the key word is through! Do a slow through job and your mouth should be plaque free on the brushing surfaces. Flossing should be through! Go under the gums! 40% of your mouth is only cleaned by flossing.
PS- I'm a Dental Hygienist.

Answer 2

I've the same doubt too. If I brush after breakfast, teeth can be kept clean till lunch break, however I dislike to eat breakfast before brushing. And I hate to brush twice (before & after breakfast) because if I've to do that it mean at least 4x brushing per day (2x before & after breakfast, 1x after lunch and 1x before bedtime). And that'll make my teeth and gum more sensitive. Moreover, most people have to rush for work or school in the early morning.
How about rinsing and gargling with antiseptic mouthwash before breakfast, and then brush after breakfast. Would it be better this way??

Answer 3

i had the exact same debate with my mate the other day of course it is best to do it before and after but...

being as oyuo have cleaned off the first layer of whatever was on your teeth you are then adding a newer layer which hasnt already been there to teeth which do not have anything on them,

i have always considered it in like layers anyway.

but yeah know what you mean and i agree with you

the toothbrush will clean as far down as it can and then on the clean layer you are sticking more GAM to them and obviously this is going to damage them more

at the end of the day you are sposed to brush them before and after meals so as long as you dont scrub at them youre teeth should be fine

ps regardless of what your husband thinks you should do what you think and just leave him to his own devices and you cant fail and if you do its your fault not his

hope this helps, and if it dont...

youll never get these wasted minutes back.

pinki X

Answer 4

Or...you could brush your teeth when you wake up because you feel disgusting and then again after you eat so your breath doesn't smell like you're rotting until lunchtime.

If you're committed to brushing your teeth only once, you should do it after you eat. It isn't that much longer that all that stuff has been building up in your mouth.

I'm not a freak about it, but I do it twice.

Answer 5

Well I brush my teeth and then eat breakfast!! I don't think it makes much of a difference!! I mean you are going to eventually eat anyway around mid-morning or lunch-time!!

In fact it is more harmful to eat food and then brush your teeth within 1/2 an hour of eating, because eating results in an acid attack (that your saliva usually keeps under control) and if you brush your teeth within 1/2 an hour of eating the teeth are at their weakest and thus brushing can remove enamel because the enamel is softer.

Answer 6

Well I was taught that one time complete eradication of plaque and food debris, atleast once a day is enough, doesnt matter when u do it, morning, night or afternoon,But u shud not brush too vigorously or too frequently or u might abrade ur teeth.

Answer 7

i brush my teeth early morning because i want to get rid of the bad breath and the bacteria sits there since last night. and to have a best taste of my breakfast without smelling my bad breath.

Answer 8

You have to brush your teeth first because plaque buils up quicker when you are asleep, so you don't eat it down with you breakfast.

Maybe you should brush your teeth, eat your breakfast then use mouthwash and/or floss.

Answer 9

I agree with you.
Breakfast tastes awful after brushing my teeth.

Answer 10

Don`t eat breakfast without cleaning your teeth because all the germs will go into your tummy, admittedly they will be zapped by the enzymes but occasionally it could give you tummy ache. Best way is to clean before your breakfast and mouthwash after.