Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

113 replies

soapylaces · 01/08/2021 13:44

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?

OP posts:
user1497207191 · 01/08/2021 19:36

After breakfast, not much point in brushing before eating as your food particles will be on your teeth all day.

IARTNS · 01/08/2021 19:37

After - I don't want minty coffee or toast.

Strokethefurrywall · 01/08/2021 19:47

Urgh, can’t abide morning breath so immediately after peeing and before the shower. Or sometimes in the shower depending on how much time I’ve got.

isitjustlockdown · 01/08/2021 19:50

I had a chat with my dentist about this a couple of months back, her advise was to brush immediately upon getting up (before breakfast), and if you have time to wait half an hour after breakfast brush again. If you cannot at least rinse with water after breakfast (and every meal).

Her reasoning was that overnight plaque builds up on your teeth (even worse if you tend to sleep with your mouth open), and you need to remove this before eating otherwise you give the bacteria living in the plaque a feed which leads to it multiplying and that is bad for your gums. Add to that the fact that most people don't have half an hour to wait to brush after breakfast, it is much better to brush first.

She also advises waiting at least 30 minutes after eating to brush, but says to swill water around the mouth straight after eating to remove any food residue, and brush half an hour after all meals if possible.

She also said do not rinse after brushing the teeth, and mouthwash is best used to freshen up and rinse out food particles in between brushes, rather than straight after brushing.

GoldBar · 01/08/2021 19:53

Brush before breakfast.

Floss and mouthwash after breakfast before going out.

NotMyCat · 01/08/2021 21:00

Before as I don't have breakfast until my first break at work!
Don't use mouthwash but I do floss, water floss and brush my tongue with a special brush and paste Blush

hellcatspangle · 01/08/2021 21:06

After. Who wants minty breakfast?

BaronessOfTheNorth · 01/08/2021 21:14

Both. When I first get up then half an hour after breakfast.

TheSkatesOfCoachBombay · 01/08/2021 21:18

I'm an after person. Get up have breakfast, have a coffee, quick shower, brush teeth and dress and off out for the day.

DS is also an after. Up breakfast, watches morning cartoons whilst I shower then I call him up for a wash and teeth brushing once I'm out of the shower. Dress him and me and out we go.

I also have an evening shower and so does DS. But for ease he has a morning wash.

oknowimscared · 01/08/2021 21:18

Brush before. Floss after.

essentialhealing · 01/08/2021 21:28

If somebody didn't brush their teeth as soon as they got up they better stay the fuck away from me, disgusting

DieSchottin93 · 01/08/2021 22:12

I'm another who doesn't want a minty tasting breakfast even though I know you're meant to brush before 🙈 But I have my breakfast, then shower and by time I've faffed about putting my make up on and getting dressed etc then at least half an hour has passed anyway.

PigletJohn · 01/08/2021 23:02

Both

k1233 · 01/08/2021 23:04

I do both, depending on the day. Weekdays, up, teeth, out the door, breakfast when I'm back.

Weekends, up, breakfast, jobs, teeth before going out.

I can't even drink water straight after brushing, so no chance of eating. There's got to be a good gap (an hour or so) between brushing and eating.

texasss · 01/08/2021 23:12

I don't eat breakfast but I do it after the first coffee.

Pebbledashery · 01/08/2021 23:18

I don't care what the guidance is.. The thought of getting up and eating without having had brushed my teeth makes me want to vom. Very definitely before!

Pebbledashery · 01/08/2021 23:19

@essentialhealing

If somebody didn't brush their teeth as soon as they got up they better stay the fuck away from me, disgusting
Also this. 100% So fucking glad I'm single tbh. No disgusting habits to put up with!
merryhouse · 01/08/2021 23:34

Neither.

I am a complete slattern and only brush my teeth once a day.

MountainDweller · 01/08/2021 23:52

After as I can't bear the thought of my first sacred cup of tea tasting of mint! Plus I have fruit for breakfast and the mint makes fruit taste really weird. I didn't think about the bacteria... maybe a quick brush with no paste before breakfast would help, then a full one after? Also if I'm going to the dentist it has to be after!

whereislittleroo · 02/08/2021 00:31

After. I eat as soon as I get up, then get dressed/ do my makeup and brush my teeth last thing before I leave the house.

Lolwhat · 02/08/2021 00:43

Before!! I don’t want to be eating 8 hours worth of bacteria!!

JohnnyLuLus · 02/08/2021 00:55

Before. I'm not walking around with nightime bacteria in my mouth and morning breath. Same for having a shower and getting dressed. I don't go downstairs until I'm clean.

MrsFlinch · 02/08/2021 01:06

Don’t have breakfast anyway but always as soon as I wake up. Have done this for as long as I can remember. Can’t stand the feeling of morning mouth!

Wingedharpy · 02/08/2021 01:08

I like living on the edge so sometimes before, sometimes after.

milkyaqua · 02/08/2021 02:47

There really is nothing I like more than meeting up with people who have food particles stuck between their teeth.