Everyone knows how important it is to brush your teeth. It’s the best way to keep your gums healthy and remove plaque build-up. With that said, many people struggle with figuring out the best times to brush. Should it be before or after breakfast? Do you swish mouthwash first or after brushing? When does flossing come into play?
Let’s take a look at the answers to these essential questions.
Brushing and Breakfast
It doesn’t seem to make much of a difference if you brush before or after your breakfast. Either way, you are cleaning the plaque off your teeth. What you want to be concerned about is acid. Your enamel is the hardest part of your body, but acid weakens it. When you have acidic foods or drinks with your breakfast, they weaken the enamel. This includes coffee, grapefruit and orange juice.
You might think that brushing your teeth right after you eat would help, but it actually causes more damage. Your hurt your teeth when you brush while there are acidic substances on them. Instead, you want to rinse your mouth with water right after breakfast and then you can brush thirty minutes later if you desire.
Floss and Mouthwash
Flossing isn’t so much about the timing as it is regularity. Floss after your morning brushing or right before bed. Just choose a time that you’ll do it consistently.
Mouthwash isn’t a requirement and strictly a personal decision. It does reduce the risk of gum disease and eliminates plaque. The problem is that it’s also been linked to oral cancers. If you prefer the feeling of a fresh mouth after mouthwash, you’ll want to do it after brushing.
Make Sure You’re Brushing
We can’t give you a strict schedule to follow for your oral hygiene routine. As long as you are flossing and brushing regularly, you are in good shape and leaps above many other Americans. Choose a method that works best for your schedule and stick to it. This is what protects you from cavities and disease. Brush twice a day and floss once. On top of that, don’t neglect your dental appointments with your Indianapolis, IN dentist for cleaning and evaluation.
