Brush Before Breakfast or After?

In the morning, we are all faced with a difficult decision—what are we going to have for breakfast? While this is the most important choice to make, we also have to choose when it’s best to brush our teeth—before or after we eat breakfast! With the help of your dentist in Indianapolis IN, we want to share what’s going on with your teeth while you’re sleeping and why brushing your teeth matters.

First, let’s break down what happens to your body when you’re sleeping. At night, your body slows down, which means that it’s not running at 100%. This also means that you’re not producing saliva at the same speed that you usually are during the day. About 80-90% of your saliva production occurs during the day while there’s only about 10-15% that’s produced at night.

With this reduced amount, your teeth are at risk for cavities, tooth decay, and infections from built up bacteria. The minerals in your saliva work to protect your enamel (the surface of your teeth) to keep your teeth strong and happy. This is another reason that you wake up with bad breath! When there is no high saliva production, the bacteria in your mouth lingers and causes the stinky smell.

So when is the best time to brush your teeth in the morning? Is it before you eat breakfast or after? The truth is, there is no better time—as long as you do it! No matter if you brush your teeth before you eat or after, we want to make sure that you’re taking care of your smile the best way that you can. If you brush your teeth before you eat, then you’re getting rid of the bacteria from when you were sleeping. If you brush afterward, you’re eliminating any lingering food particles from your meal. Either way is a win-win situation!

If you have any other questions about taking care of your teeth, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Indianapolis IN by calling our office at (317) 358-8885 today!