Do you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

[soapylaces]

I do it as soon as I wake up but DH thinks that's weird and will only brush after he's eaten.

Who is BU?

First thing before a shower. Then breakfast.

Same as your DH - after breakfast.

Before. Can't stand morning breath, I brush as soon as I get up but after going to the toilet.

I have read that if it's after a meal, it should be at least 30 mins after. Most mornings I don't have time to wait as I eat just before going out.

Before. Am Ex dentist. Scientifically it doesn't matter but pp is correct, you should wait after eating so it's way more efficient to do it before (in the shower for me...)

Before breakfast, I was told that you can damage your tooth enamel if you brush straight after eating as the acids in your food can soften it.

Mouthwash before breakfast them brushing teeth afterwards 🦷

@Mrsmorton Ooh interesting. Thank you. Cannot wait to tell DH this.

@NannyR

Before breakfast, I was told that you can damage your tooth enamel if you brush straight after eating as the acids in your food can soften it.

Same here.

Before, as soon as I wake up. The reason you have bad breath on a morning us due to bacterial build up in your mouth as you sleep.
If you brush your teeth and gums thoroughly as soon as you waken, then you're flushing that bacteria down the sink
If you eat or drink first, then you're flushing that bacteria into your body which can cause problems such as gastrointestinal disorders.

@Mrsmorton

Before. Am Ex dentist. Scientifically it doesn't matter but pp is correct, you should wait after eating so it's way more efficient to do it before (in the shower for me...)

Eh? This is contradictory? You should wait until after so it is more efficient to do before? . Cleaning teeth in shower is very odd too.

OP, before for me, I like to clean my teeth first thing.

@NannyR

Before breakfast, I was told that you can damage your tooth enamel if you brush straight after eating as the acids in your food can soften it.

Before because I'd heard this too, but mainly because I know if I left it until after we'd end up being in a rush and forgetting several times a week.

Before breakfast

I do it afterwards although my DH does his before, as advised by his dentist when he was a child.

No, they are saying it doesn't matter if you do it before or after,but you should wait a period of time after eating as opposed to immediately after a meal.

Both. Brush as soon as I'm up, then walk the dog, then shower, then breakfast. Then brush at least half an hour after breakfast.

Before.

I did this anyway but was told by a hygienist that if you brush first you wash away the bacteria that builds up in your mouth overnight. If you eat and drink first, you swallow a lot of it.

I knew I wasn't BU!

DH doesn't like that he can't taste breakfast properly because of the minty taste

Before, I don't eat before at least 10 and the children would end up brushing breakfast round their mouths on school days.

After. I don’t want my breakfast to taste of toothpaste

Before, because of the enamel thing as pp have said.

After.

I clean my teeth last thing at night, it seems a bit pointless to then brush them again straight after waking up, before actually eating anything?

Absolutely after, so my mouth can feel fresh when I set off for the day, not covered in breakfast crumbs. Also, I couldn't bear for my breakfast and especially my first cup of tea, to taste minty. I had never heard you shouldn't brush for 30 minutes after eating but it won't change my habit because I am usually pretty slow in the morning and a half hour has often elapsed anyway between breakfast and brushing my teeth.

Definitely after. Don't want breakfast spoiled by the taste of toothpaste.

@OhGiveUp

Before, as soon as I wake up. The reason you have bad breath on a morning us due to bacterial build up in your mouth as you sleep. If you brush your teeth and gums thoroughly as soon as you waken, then you're flushing that bacteria down the sink If you eat or drink first, then you're flushing that bacteria into your body which can cause problems such as gastrointestinal disorders.

But presumably, the time between brushing your teeth at night and eating breakfast is the same length or shorter than the time between brushing your teeth in the morning and eating dinner?

After, as advised by my dentist.