Do you brush before breakfast or after breakfast?

General
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Most dentists recommend brushing before breakfast due to the bacteria and buildup in our mouth during night time but there are various factors that help you to decide if you should brush before breakfast or you can do it after.

Some of the deciding factors are

  1. Age - For children and seniors, its better to do before breakfast as their teeth’s enamel need protection from erosion.

  2. Sensitivity and your own dental health - Even adults can have sensitivity or face issues brushing after eating acidic/ sour things. Also consider your dental health and definitely brush before breakfast to maintain your teeth.

  3. Food that you are going to eat for breakfast - Nature of food is a major deciding factor for you to choose brushing before breakfast or after breakfast.

Here is a table that will help you to decide if you should brush before breakfast or its okay to brush after breakfast

Best time to brush
Best time to brush848×453 34.7 KB

If you decide to brush after breakfast for some reasons then here are some things you must keep in mind -

  1. Rinse your mouth after waking up and after eating - this is to make sure that overnight buildup and food particles don’t stay too long on your teeth

  2. Avoid sugary and acidic food for breakfast if you aren’t brushing before that - sugary and acidic food soften the enamel and cause damage to the protective layer

  3. Avoid sugary and acidic food for breakfast if you aren’t brushing before that - sugary and acidic food soften the enamel and cause damage to the protective layer

  4. If you have eaten non acidic food, then wait for 30 - 60 mins - This waiting period is so that softened enamel isn’t damaged by brushing. Our saliva will neutralize and make enamel strong again so its okay to brush after the time period.

Remember that its always advised to brush before taking your breakfast, but if you must brush after then follow these tips.

Read more about this topic here

Brushing Before or After Breakfast? What Dentists Really Recommend

Are your brushing habits related to science or convenience ? have you changed your brushing habits after learning something new ?

5 Likes
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Brushing can be a simple process but provides absolutely incredible results. Dental caries involves a main factor called time, which is responsible for the widespread carious lesion. Long periods of undisturbed plaque may lead to gum issues. Knowing when to brush can prevent such issues.

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Very informative! Brushing in the morning before breakfast and rinsing the mouth with water after every meal is what I follow.

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Very helpful post. It clearly explains the effect of acid and starch-based foods on the teeth before brushing in the morning. It can really help in maximizing the oral health

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Well explained. Brushing before breakfast clearly offers better enamel protection, especially against acidic foods, while brushing after requires proper timing and care. Ultimately, understanding the science helps us make smarter oral-health choices rather than brushing purely out of habit.

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Very informative! I didn’t realize how factors like food type and enamel sensitivity affect brushing timing. This really helps balance dental science with daily convenience definitely makes me rethink my morning routine.