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Original poster

Tea before bed and brushing teeth...

40 replies

Coldemort · 03/12/2019 22:31

So today's first world problem.
I like to take a cup of tea to bed with me. Or sometimes sugary hot milk (because it seems I'm turning into my grandmother). Especially in this weather it so snuggly and warm.
So do you brush teeth first and risk minty drinks (and undoing all the work of brushing teeth).
Or do you force yourself out of warm snuggly bed to brush teeth?
Or do I make some kind of bedside contraption so I can brush teeth in bed? If so what?
Help.... Grin

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 03/12/2019 22:32

I’ve never taken a drink to bed with me but always brush my teeth last. If I ate anything after I’d have to brush my teeth again!

Pipandmum · 03/12/2019 22:33

Tea is a notorious stainer of teeth and you know sugar isn't good. Out of bed and brush before sleep.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 03/12/2019 22:34

No way would I be getting out of bed again to brush my teeth. I see your dilemma.

I think I'd go for a tooth brushing after evening meal, then hopefully a long enough gap before hot drink to lose minty taste. Then I'd just go straight to sleep after the drink.

Abibranning · 03/12/2019 22:34

Get out of snuggly bed, but I can't sleep without cleaning my teeth last thing, so I may not be the norm.

Original poster
Coldemort · 03/12/2019 22:35

Boo not liking the answers so far Grin

How about the contraption idea? And budding Wallace's?

OP posts:
SleighOfSparkliness · 03/12/2019 22:35

If you must have a beverage after brushing, maybe try redbush or camomile tea (don’t add honey or milk though)?

Original poster
Coldemort · 03/12/2019 22:37

Is milk bad? Was contemplating hot milk without the sugar as a solution Hmm

OP posts:
BillywilliamV · 03/12/2019 22:37

Lying here with cup of tea, no intention of doing teeth again, but I don't take sugar

Thestrangestthing · 03/12/2019 22:37

@Abibranning

Me neither, I have to be minty fresh before I go to sleep.

Dangermouse80 · 03/12/2019 22:38

I've always brushed morning only and no complaints from the dentist yet!

TurningLeaves · 03/12/2019 22:42

Even though you're not adding sugar, there are natural sugars in the milk so you still shouldn't go to sleep without doing anything. Rinsing with water would be better than nothing.

I could quite easily brush teeth in bed without needing to be by the sink. I just swallow the foam!

However.... I would definitely need to wee so would have to get up anyway.

MrsJoshNavidi · 03/12/2019 22:44

Milk has sugar in it naturally (lactose) so you should brush your teeth after a milk drink.

Sorry OP, either have your drink downstairs, or get out of bed to clean your teeth.

Original poster
Coldemort · 03/12/2019 22:59

This is not the support I was expecting from the mumsnet community! Can I do a mumsnet flounce? All the way to the other side of the bed whilst desperately clutching my cup of milky sugary tea and yelling YABU in a sleep deprived yowl?

sighs and bimbles to bathroom muttering 'you know they're right' to self

OP posts:
MrsJoshNavidi · 03/12/2019 23:00
Grin Sorry OP x
AnneLovesGilbert · 03/12/2019 23:01

Tomorrow night, get your pjs on and enjoy your tea/milk cosy under a blanket on the sofa then teeth and bed.

changeforprivacy · 03/12/2019 23:03

I'm past the age of being able to have a drink at bedtime over 40 and not have to get up to pee in the night. When I was able to drink and sleep through though I never got up and did my teeth.

chocolatespiders · 03/12/2019 23:04

I would have to brush after. Could you use a straw so it misses your teeth or would that not be the same?

StillWeRise · 03/12/2019 23:04

how about brushing your teeth without toothpaste?

runoutofnamechanges · 03/12/2019 23:44

I suppose if it's not every day, it would be ok to brush/floss after dinner so the minty taste dissipates, then use one of those chewable toothbrushes or mouthwash from the cosiness of your duvet. Camomile tea would probably be a better hot drink for your teeth.

Useful22 · 04/12/2019 00:17

I don't think this is right, I still have to breastfeed toddler at night and overwhelming consensus from dentists was to brush BEFORE milk. They said worst thing to do was brush straight after milk with sugar as you brush it around teeth causing more damage. So if you want to do the right thing you'd have to wait at least 20 mins minimum.

PiggyPlumPie · 04/12/2019 08:53

Meh, I always drink tea in bed and don't brush after. And I have sugar in it!

Was at the dentist on Monday and no problems at all.

Ohyesiam · 04/12/2019 08:55

Milk is full of lactose, a sugar.

00100001 · 04/12/2019 08:58

Just brush your teeth in bed Grin

Spit into a glass, sort it out in the morning!

00100001 · 04/12/2019 09:02

Also, say you have your bedtime drink at 10pm, and get up and brush at 8am. That's 10hrs between brushing.

That's no difference between having a cuppa at 10am and then not brushing until the evening at around 8pm...

But nobody would be going OMG BRUSH YOUR TEETH AFTER YOUR MORNING CUPPA OTHERWISE THEY'LL FALL OUT!

HariboStarmix · 04/12/2019 09:04

How about the contraption idea?

Like a penis beaker, but for your toothbrush? Just don't confuse the two...