Brush Before or After Eating? Evaluating the Best Time to Brush Your Teeth
By now you probably know the importance of brushing your teeth consistently to help maintain healthy teeth and gums. But does it matter when you brush your teeth, and is it better to brush before or after eating a hearty breakfast or holiday feast?
We’re going to give you more insight into when you should try to brush your teeth. We’ll talk about saliva production and how acidic food and drink might impact when you choose to brush those pearly whites, plus if you should rinse your mouth with water after brushing.
When is the Best Time to Brush Your Teeth?
The two best times to brush your teeth are in the morning when you first wake up, and at night before you go to sleep. There are a few reasons why these timeframes are recommended.
The reason you should brush your teeth when you first wake up is that plaque can build up on your teeth while you’re sleeping, even if you brush before bed. Saliva production is also slow at night, which can contribute to the growth of bad breath bacteria. By brushing your teeth and tongue when you first wake up, you’re helping to give your mouth a fresh start by cleaning away the plaque and bacteria your teeth may have accumulated overnight, which can help protect your enamel.
In terms of nighttime etiquette, brushing your chompers before you settle in for a good night’s sleep can help clean plaque bacteria and lingering food debris from the things you’ve had to eat or drink throughout the day.
Should You Brush Your Teeth Before or After Breakfast?
You should brush your teeth before breakfast when you first wake up. Doing so can help to not only clean bacteria from your teeth but may also increase saliva production—which can help impact natural cleaning during the day, even after you’ve eaten.
That last part is important because it indicates why you do not have to brush your teeth after every meal. In fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing twice per day. Even if you have three (or more) meals per day, you should stick to that number.
Brushing your teeth too many times (or too hard) may wear down your enamel and expose the underlying dentin layer. So while you might think brushing after each meal is a more effective way of promoting healthy teeth and gums, the opposite is true.
Why Toothpaste & Orange Juice Do Not Mix
Have you ever taken a sip of your morning glass of orange juice or cup of coffee and immediately thought, “yuck!” Is that one of the reasons why you’re wondering whether you can brush your teeth after eating breakfast in the first place?
Indeed, toothpaste and orange juice—plus other acidic foods and beverages—are not the best mix. One of the reasons why is that the surfactants in toothpastes minimize the sweet receptors and eliminate the phospholipids in your tastebuds that keep the bitter receptors at bay. Thus, eating and drinking anything acidic after brushing will further exaggerate a bitter taste in your mouth.
The Relationship Between Brushing & Acidic Foods
Maybe, despite all the information we’ve given you so far, you’re still intent on brushing your teeth after breakfast because you don’t want to ruin the sweet taste of your favorite morning beverages, fruits, or pastries. After all, these foods and juices or caffeine drinks can stain your teeth, right? Well, yes. But there’s another thing you should know.
Acids in the mouth weaken the enamel of the tooth when you’re eating. Brushing right after eating breakfast—which you might feel compelled to do if you’re in a hurry or rushing out the door for work—can cause damage because those acids have softened the enamel and made it more prone to erosion or wear. In fact, MouthHealthy by the ADA recommends waiting 60 minutes to brush after eating acidic foods so as to give your saliva a chance to naturally wash away acids.
On a more overarching point, you should probably try to consume acidic and sugary items in moderation. And if you made the wise choice to brush before eating breakfast but still need your daily cup of coffee or tea, also try eating nutritious foods low in carbohydrates and sugar. That can help lower the impact of the acids in your mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum is another option!
Lastly, you should consider brushing with a baking soda toothpaste, such as ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes. All ARM & HAMMER™ toothpaste formulas contain baking soda, and the alkalinity in baking soda helps to neutralize acids in your mouth and effectively remove plaque while also helping to protect your enamel. Try some of our favorites, including:
- ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpaste Plus TheraBreath Breath Fresheners helps kill bad breath bacteria* with an invigorating Icy Mint flavor. This toothpaste also targets plaque, tartar, and set-in stains for effective cleaning and whitening.
- ARM & HAMMER™ Enamel Defense Toothpaste not only strengthens enamel while removing plaque and whitening teeth but also helps repair the enamel surface with Liquid Calcium™ Technology.
- ARM & HAMMER™ PeroxiCare Toothpaste provides a deep-cleaning formula that improves gum health and removes up to 3X more plaque in hard-to-reach areas compared to a leading toothpaste.
Whether you’re trying to remove plaque and stains for a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums, whiten those chompers, or neutralize bad breath, ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes come in formulas to help you address any need!
How Long Should You Wait to Eat After Brushing?
You should wait 30 minutes to eat after you brush your teeth in the morning. This gives your body time for saliva production to ramp up before you sit down for breakfast. It also gives the fluoride in your toothpaste a chance to provide your teeth with maximum protection.
If you neglected to brush your teeth first thing in the morning and already ate your morning eggs or had to settle for a late dinner after a long day, you should still try to wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. This will allow your saliva to naturally wash away acids and foot particles to return your mouth to its proper pH. Also, try to refrain from eating a midnight snack if you’ve already brushed your teeth. Remember, bacteria buildup on teeth and tongue can increase overnight.
How Long After Brushing Teeth Can You Drink Water?
You should wait at least 10 minutes before drinking water after brushing your teeth. If you cannot get rid of the excess toothpaste in your mouth after brushing, try rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash.
If you feel more comfortable rinsing immediately with water, it’s not the worst option. Most drinking water contains some fluoride. But you should also know you may be rinsing some fluoride from the toothpaste off of your teeth.
Bookend Each Day by Brushing with ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes!
How should you remember when to brush your teeth? Well, how about starting and ending each day by cleaning your pearly whites? Make sure you’re practicing strong oral hygiene habits by flossing daily and brushing twice per day. And, when you do brush, use ARM & HAMMER™ Toothpastes to neutralize plaque acids for a clean and fresh feeling that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.
*in laboratory tests
