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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is thanks to him that the brain receives the right amount of glucose, cells, vitamins and minerals, and the muscles receive protein. Research even confirms that skipping breakfast weakens the functioning of the brain, which will make us less fit at work or at the university. On the occasion of this meal, a question comes up like Shakespeare’s dilemma: brushing your teeth before or after breakfast?
- A kind of a cover is formed on the teeth after only a dozen or so minutes after brushing. It protects the enamel, but also forms a matrix to which bacteria adhere
- The recommendations are clear: you should brush your teeth at least twice a day for about two to three minutes
- Brushing your teeth after breakfast is the standard recommended activity. But there are also opponents of brushing your teeth after a meal. What are their arguments?
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Why do we need brushing
The purpose of brushing your teeth is to remove food debris and bacteria, and to neutralize acidity. Already a dozen or so minutes after brushing the teeth, the so-called acquired sheath formed by substances contained in saliva such as glycoproteins, proteins, enzymes and lipids. It has an important task: it protects the enamel against acids and other factors, but there is also the “dark” side of the casing – it is a matrix to which bacteria adhere. They accumulate on the crown part of the tooth as well as in the gingival pockets, creating plaque.
Microbes will always find something to consume: and this dead cell is the leftovers of our meal. During this feast, they produce acids, which in turn lead to a weakening of the enamel, which in the future results in caries. As if that were not enough, the plaque calcifies, leading to the formation of tartar.
– When we sleep soundly, the secretion of saliva in the mouth decreases, and the bacterial flora also increases, so sometimes we wake up with a feeling of bad breath. For several reasons, brushing your teeth after waking up can have good sides: we will remove bacteria, neutralize the acidic reaction, and protect the enamel with fluoride against falling pH. This practice has its supporters – says certified dental hygienist Anna Raab from Dentim Clinic Medicover in Katowice.
Brushing your teeth before breakfast
The recommendations of the most important oral health organizations are clear: you should brush your teeth at least twice a day for about two to three minutes. It is also best to do this after each meal. However, there are no special guidelines as to the rule of brushing your teeth in the morning.
Advocates of washing before breakfast argue that after a night’s sleep a harmful bacterial flora has developed in the mouth, which will only benefit from the additional carbohydrates from the meal. What’s more, if we eat citrus or other acidic products, the already weakened enamel will be even more prone to decay. However, this leads them to the conclusion that their teeth should be brushed before a meal – explains the hygienist.
Oral environment can also be acidic in people who struggle with stomach conditions like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and widespread heartburn. The acid in the stomach flows back up the esophagus and up, into the mouth. It also has a negative effect on our enamel.
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Brushing your teeth after breakfast
Brushing your teeth after breakfast is the standard recommended activity. Thanks to it, we remove food remnants, neutralize acids, even get rid of bacteria and other microorganisms. Care supplemented with a rinse, thread or irrigator will protect the enamel even better.
Opponents of brushing your teeth after a meal have suggested that the enamel may be softened by acids from what you just ate, such as oranges, strawberries, grapes, and acidic foods. However, here the dentists’ recommendations do not change, because, as after any other meal with a similar composition, it is recommended to wait several dozen minutes for the saliva to start working, to even out the pH and it will be safe to brush your teeth – advises Anna Raab from Dentim Clinic Medicover.
She also adds: – It’s hard to imagine not brushing your teeth after a meal. Leftover food is a breeding ground for carious bacteria, and even fluoride-protected enamel will deteriorate over time. Fluoride lowers the susceptibility of enamel to acids by about 1-2 degrees on the pH scale to a value of about 4. Lemon juice, often used in salads, for example, has a pH of 2, and that’s a lot off the scale!
Bottom line: it’s best to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after a meal. We should also floss our teeth at least once a day, and during the day, when we don’t have time to brush our teeth, you can use a rinse with fluoride. While brushing your teeth, don’t forget to brush your tongue. Many brushes are equipped with a special tip that will make it easier for us, and this is where many harmful bacteria are found.
– If we want to brush our teeth also before breakfast, as an additional care, there is nothing wrong with thatHowever, let’s remember about the basic principles, which are the right technique and a brush with medium or soft bristles – says Anna Raab.
However, does it solve the dilemma? The discussion around brushing your teeth before or after breakfast focuses only on the enamel. We often forget that gum-related ailments, including periodontitis and periodontitis, are an equally common disease. If we do not brush our teeth after a meal, the remains, along with bacteria, may remain in these places and have a negative impact on health. Plaque that builds up below the gumline is difficult to remove by yourself. People who have symptoms such as reddening of the gums, soreness, tenderness, fluffiness and bleeding must report to the office for cleaning the pockets with a special procedure.
You may be interested in:
- Which dental procedures should be performed at the National Health Fund? Here are the dentist’s recommendations
- Do you brush your teeth often in a hurry? You can hurt yourself
- Tooth poisoning – what is tooth devitalization? Is it dangerous? [WE EXPLAIN]
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