You know you need to brush your teeth. But does it matter when you brush your teeth?

Actually, you might be surprised! While the time of day doesn’t matter much when it comes to teeth brushing, there are certain times you should avoid brushing your teeth.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the topic.

When You Should Brush Your Teeth

First things first, the basics: The American Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes each time.

That naturally lends itself to brushing your teeth in the morning and then again in the evening before bedtime.

When you were a kid, you probably brushed your teeth after you had breakfast each morning. You may do the same now as an adult, especially if you’re working from home.

But you may want to rethink that.

Many of the foods we eat for breakfast, such as coffee and citrus fruits, are acidic. Because acid can negatively affect tooth enamel, it’s a good idea to wait for at least a half-hour after eating acidic foods before brushing your teeth.

That means it may make better sense to brush your teeth and then eat, even if you might have to deal with orange juice/toothpaste flavor for a minute or two!

Other Reasons for Brushing First Thing

There are other reasons why you may want to brush your teeth first thing in the morning, before breakfast.

For one, you’ll be able to quickly rid yourself of the dreaded “morning breath.” Beyond getting rid of that nasty flavor/odor, you’re also ridding your teeth of the plaque and bacteria that cause the odor.

There’s one other key benefit. A study found that those who brushed their teeth first thing in the morning experienced increased saliva production. Why does that matter? Well, that saliva breaks down and kills off harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Have a question about your oral health or our services? The experts at Cottonwood Dental Group can help! Visit our website to meet the team and learn more about our array of dental services. Contact us online or call us at 303-694-9740.

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