Experts reveal the best time to brush your teeth

Brushing your teeth before or after breakfast both have certain effects on your oral health. Depending on your personal time, you can choose one of the two, but you also need to pay attention to a few things.

Wait at least 30 minutes after breakfast before brushing your teeth.

Brushing your teeth immediately after waking up helps remove plaque and bacteria that have accumulated overnight. It also helps to pre-coat the enamel with fluoride, protecting teeth from acids from food. Brushing also stimulates saliva production immediately, which helps the mouth fight harmful bacteria and neutralize acids.

In addition, chewing sugar-free gum also helps stimulate saliva secretion after meals, according to Verywell Health (USA).

Meanwhile, dentist Susanne Kölare Jeffrey, clinical associate professor of restorative dentistry at the University of Washington (USA), said brushing teeth after breakfast helps remove starch and sugar left on teeth, preventing them from feeding bacteria.

Use a soft-bristled brush, hold it at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line, and brush gently to avoid damaging tooth enamel.

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“If I had to choose, I would definitely choose brushing my teeth after breakfast,” Dr. Jeffrey shared.

However, brushing your teeth immediately after eating can damage your tooth enamel. The general recommendation is that if you choose to eat breakfast before brushing, you should wait 30-60 minutes to give your saliva time to remove acids from food and help restore tooth enamel.

“During that time, people can rinse their mouth thoroughly with clean water to remove some of the plaque, helping the acidity in the mouth return to a neutral state,” advised Dr. Peter Arsenault, professor at the School of Dentistry - Tufts University (USA).

How to brush your teeth properly to protect tooth enamel

After breakfast, especially if you drink acidic beverages like orange juice or coffee, your tooth enamel becomes “softer.” Therefore, Dr. Arsenault says, brushing your teeth right after eating can cause the enamel to be worn away or scratched by the toothbrush, or even lose tooth structure.

“However, in practice, I think it’s best to brush after eating,” adds Dr. Arsenault. If you can’t wait 30 to 60 minutes, you can try the American Dental Association’s (ADA) brushing technique below to protect your enamel:

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride - a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay and protect tooth enamel.
• Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line.
• Brush your teeth with light pressure, moving the brush back and forth in short strokes across your teeth.

Drinking orange juice or coffee in the morning can cause tooth enamel to wear away.

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Brushing teeth at night reduces cardiovascular risk

The ADA recommends that people brush their teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, for at least 2 minutes.

“While there is no exact time to brush your teeth in the morning, it is important to brush your teeth before bed. Because when we sleep, saliva production decreases, which makes it easier for plaque to form and attack tooth enamel if teeth are not cleaned properly,” Jeffrey emphasized.

Research also shows that brushing your teeth before bed can reduce the risk of heart disease in some people. This habit helps prevent inflammation caused by poor oral hygiene from spreading to the bloodstream, thereby reducing the risk of heart problems.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chuyen-gia-chi-ra-thoi-diem-danh-rang-tot-nhat-185250902233045972.htm