Should I brush my teeth before or after breakfast?

You've heard over and over again to "Brush your teeth after you eat", but is that always the best practice?

During the day your mouth constantly produces saliva as a self-cleaning tool- rinsing away the food and drinks you consume throughout the day.

But at night, that's a different story.

While you're sleeping the mouth slows down its production of saliva to prevent dehydration and the need to swallow- so you can sleep in peace. This leaves you vulnerable to an increase in bacterial growth, which is why you might wake up in the morning with a bad taste in your mouth, a.k.a. "Morning Breath".

So, the first thing you should do in the morning is to take a few minutes to thoroughly clean the inside of your mouth before eating. You don't want to ingest the bacteria your mouth collected overnight.

Scrape your tongue every day to clear up Morning Breath by 70%

Remember, brushing is meant for removing plaque, not just food debris. In fact, the plaque is what you should be most worried about.

"Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods or beverages with sugars or starches, the bacteria release acids that attack your tooth enamel. The plaque is so sticky that it keeps the acids in contact with your teeth, in time breaking down the enamel and leading to tooth decay." (quoted from: Web MD- read more here)

If the symptoms of "Morning Breath" (better known as Halitosis), stick with you throughout the day- you might be facing a bigger problem. Some of the reasons for halitosis could be cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, smoking, or poor diet. Make sure you schedule an appointment with Dr. Mark Kubiliun so he can help you take the necessary steps towards tackling this issue.

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By providing links to other sites, Harbor Breeze Dental Care does not guarantee, approve, or endorse the information or products available on these sites. All pictures are from Pixabay. This blog has been endorsed and approved by Dr. Mark Kubiliun, Cosmetic Dentist in Jupiter.