Brush teeth before or after breakfast?

[goaskmum]

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

@MarpleFan

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.

Correct approach, plenty of evidence to support too.

Both. When I get up and about half an hour after breakfast.

Graph explains how mouth pH changes after eating.

After breakfast, but I generally do eat breakfast as soon as I wake up.
If for whatever reason I’m having breakfast a bit later then I’ll brush my teeth first.

I'm cringing over the memory of the time I remarked to my friend on the school bus 'It smells like honey in here!' wrinkling my nose, and only realised after the awkward silence it was her Honeynut Cheerio's breath!

I only eat breakfast on Sundays and then not til mid morning, so I brush first, but I brush again or use mouthwash if I'm going to be interacting with anyone before lunch!

@MarpleFan

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.

Me too.

Both. A quick gentle brush while getting up and a proper clean after breakfast. Proper cleans after lunch and supper too.

My dentist says my teeth are "astonishingly good" for my age.

@XenoBitch A tiny percentage in comparison to what you brush off your teeth, gums and tongue.
So rather than flushing it away by brushing, you're flushing it into your gut via food and drink.