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Original poster

Brush teeth before or after breakfast?

33 replies

goaskmum · 13/04/2022 16:06

Perhaps this is a question I should ask my dentist at my next appointment, but, I’m curious to know how all you do it.

So, do you brush your teeth before or after you eat? I’ve always done it after. Isn’t it better to clean after you’ve eaten and get rid of all the food and debris? Happy to be proven wrong though

OP posts:
ZenKaleidoscope · 13/04/2022 16:08

Before. To get ride of the nightime bacteria

Bicnod · 13/04/2022 16:08

After breakfast... I would feel weird brushing them before...

JemimaTiggywinkle · 13/04/2022 16:09

I think it depends when you have breakfast.
I brush my teeth when I get up (7am) but don’t have breakfast until 9/10ish.

If I was having breakfast as soon as I got up I’d brush after.

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Funkyslippers · 13/04/2022 16:11

Apparently it's best to brush before, then mouthwash/floss after

MarpleFan · 13/04/2022 16:12

I've always done it before as I was told that you need to leave it at least 1hr after eating or drinking to brush as the acid from foods can damage your teeth. I was also told not to use mouthwash for about an hour after brushing as it washes away the fluoride.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 13/04/2022 16:12

I suppose usually after for me...

I don't tend to eat breakfast midweek and at the weekends I tend to shower mid morning, and I always brush my teeth straight after the shower.

I make DS brush his teeth after his breakfast though so he is fresh for school.

Theoldwoman · 13/04/2022 16:13

Always after. The way I grew up.
I brush after dinner too, not before so breakfast is the same.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/04/2022 16:13

After. I like to leave the house with my mouth feeling clean.

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 13/04/2022 16:14

Before.

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 13/04/2022 16:14

I brush mine on waking up because it makes me feel more alert and more ready to give DP or the dc a kiss.

If I’m going to be working or leaving the house, I do it again after breakfast.

Tasteslikeregret · 13/04/2022 16:16

Before, otherwise the ph of your mouth is altered by eating/drinking and it become acidic so end up brushing the enamel off.

Something like that. I saw a dentist on TikTok explaining it.

saraclara · 13/04/2022 16:17

Before. I don't want to eat food with overnight mouth.
Also I'm not ready for food as soon as I get up, so I want a fresh mouth sooner than my post breakfast time.

dementedpixie · 13/04/2022 16:18

I dont really think it matters
If you are going to do it after breakfast you should leave a gap so you dont brush away enamel that could be under attack from acidic foods
During the week I brush before I eat. At weekends I brush after breakfast as I have more time

Meredusoleil · 13/04/2022 16:19

I always do after, but only learnt recently that you shouldn't rinse with water or use mouthwash straight after brushing either.

So now, I do mouthwash when I wake up to refresh my mouth. Then eat breakfast. Then brush with toothpaste without rinsing with water.

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 13/04/2022 16:26

Before but I don’t eat until after 10 so don’t want to have stinky breath when I go out.

Nidan2Sandan · 13/04/2022 16:28

Before, I eat breakfast late and hate the idea of going downstairs with stinky morning breath.

mrziggycoco · 13/04/2022 16:30

I brush after every meal. I cannot stand any bits of food in my teeth it makes me feel so icky and I just can't live with it. I use a very soft brush for between meals and a medium one for morning and evening.

IchBinAnnaOfCleves · 13/04/2022 16:33

As soon as I wake up/get up.
Hate not having a fresh feeling mouth and I walk the dogs first thing so you never know who you might bump into Wink
Mouthwash and floss before I leave the house whether I’ve had breakfast or not (more often not as my time management is poor)

RosiePosieDozy · 13/04/2022 16:33

Mine isn't the same every day. I brush my teeth before I have a shower in the morning. Sometimes I shower first thing and sometimes I stay in my pyjamas for a bit so teeth cleaning will be after breakfast.

The breakfast I have doesn't tend to get stuck in my teeth so I don't see an issue with brushing before breakfast.

Forevergold2838 · 13/04/2022 16:48

I do a thorough clean when I first wake up before I shower and then I do them again after breakfast it just a very quick once over.

Chaoslatte · 13/04/2022 16:57

Before - it’s to brush away the plaque-causing bacteria rather than the debris. And brushing soon after eating can damage the enamel.

ButtockUp · 13/04/2022 17:01

Before.
Dentist told me that brushing straight after eating was harmful... something to do with saliva acids breaking food down and brushing it makes it worse.

Norgie · 13/04/2022 17:04

As soon as I get up. Your teeth and mouth build up bacteria as you sleep. If you eat or drink before brushing then you're ingesting that bacteria, which is bad news for your gut.

MrsWombat · 13/04/2022 17:32

We always did it after so our teeth were nice and clean for the rest of the morning, but changed when our dentist said to do it before.

XenoBitch · 13/04/2022 18:00

@Norgie

As soon as I get up. Your teeth and mouth build up bacteria as you sleep. If you eat or drink before brushing then you're ingesting that bacteria, which is bad news for your gut.
Surely any bacteria ends up in your gut when you swallow anyway?

I brush before breakfast, as I don't eat for about 3 hours after getting up.