I've been doing it wrong all my life

Missedmytoe · 28/06/2023 08:29

I remember a poster in my dentists waiting room as a child which said brush first thing, after breakfast and at night.
I can't stand eating breakfast when my mouth isn't clean.

Lammveg · 28/06/2023 08:29

I also found this out somewhat recently. My grandad used to brush before breakfast and i used to think it's gross as your breakfast would be minty lol.

I think dentists could ask more about your general routine to optimise it but that's never really been the case with my dentist anyway.

Ambi · 28/06/2023 08:32

I only brushed before out of laziness, I'd shower, dress and do my teeth before going downstairs, I don't have to go back up afterwards. Also I don't really eat breakfast so not an issue.

Usernamenotavailab · 28/06/2023 08:33

I’ve always cleaned my teeth before breakfast.

can’t remember who “taught” me but that was 40/50 years ago so the advice was clearly around then.

before and after is probably what you’re supposed to do.

like pp I now can’t eat breakfast if I haven’t cleaned my teeth.

ChildrenOfRuin · 28/06/2023 08:34

I asked my dentist about this a year or so ago - DH and I had been arguing about which way round it should be - and my dentist told me that it didn’t really matter whether I brushed them before or after breakfast as long as they got brushed.

isthewashingdryyet · 28/06/2023 08:35

And don’t rinse with water after brushing as it washes all the toothpaste away.
only learned this a few years ago

DarkForces · 28/06/2023 08:37

I'm in my mid 40s, don't have a filling and have just had a clean bill of health from the dentist. I brush for 2 mins with a timed electric toothbrush (30 secs per mouth section) and floss every evening. I clean them after breakfast and before bed. Works well for me

notsorighteousthesedays · 28/06/2023 08:37

Dentists are as capable if talking rubbish as snyone else!;

It's partial information that's the problem.

Research shows that during eating the actions of saliva on food can temporarily soften tooth enamel, especially high sugar foods. This softening effect lasts about thirty minutes. So if you eat and go on a morning brushing is not ideal. Better to brush first and just rinse your mouth with water after breakfast. If you have time to wait thirty minutes after eating brudh then.

As the saying goes - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!!

ownworstnme · 28/06/2023 08:39

Yuck. Minty breakfast no thanks!

I only brush before if I'm going out for breakfast.

Meadowflower2023 · 28/06/2023 08:39

I saw this recently on the tv. It's due to fluoride protecting the teeth before you start eating apparently. We did about this in school many many moons ago, the teacher asked the class who brushed their teeth when they got up, I put my hand up as that's what my parents had taught us to do, wash, teeth, breakfast and was totally made to feel stupid in front of the vast majority of the class. Never brushed them before breakfast after that! So two fingers up to you Mr F (though you may be brown bread now) jeez I feel better for getting that off my chest, it's haunted me for years.

Original poster

DoIreallybrushmyteeththen · 28/06/2023 08:39

I’ve always cleaned my teeth before breakfast.
can’t remember who “taught” me but that was 40/50 years ago so the advice was clearly around then.
before and after is probably what you’re supposed to do.
like pp I now can’t eat breakfast if I haven’t cleaned my teeth.

My friend who is late 50s says she was taught to brush her teeth before breakfast so I wonder if it changed between her and me.
But I couldn't eat my breakfast anytime soon after cleaning my teeth - minty toast - urghh!

OP posts:

Original poster

DoIreallybrushmyteeththen · 28/06/2023 08:40

I saw this recently on the tv. It's due to fluoride protecting the teeth before you start eating apparently. We did about this in school many many moons ago, the teacher asked the class who brushed their teeth when they got up, I put my hand up as that's what my parents had taught us to do, wash, teeth, breakfast and was totally made to feel stupid in front of the vast majority of the class. Never brushed them before breakfast after that! So two fingers up to you Mr F (though you may be brown bread now) jeez I feel better for getting that off my chest, it's haunted me for years.

Ha - there are a few teachers I'd like to say the same to but not just about cleaning my teeth 😂

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RhiWrites · 28/06/2023 08:41

The mintyness really doesn’t last that long, honest. I have to brush my teeth first thing because all those bacteria that build up in the night feel gross. But the toothpaste taste doesn’t stay on your teeth for more than a minute.

Original poster

DoIreallybrushmyteeththen · 28/06/2023 08:43

Dentists are as capable if talking rubbish as snyone else!;
It's partial information that's the problem.
Research shows that during eating the actions of saliva on food can temporarily soften tooth enamel, especially high sugar foods. This softening effect lasts about thirty minutes. So if you eat and go on a morning brushing is not ideal. Better to brush first and just rinse your mouth with water after breakfast. If you have time to wait thirty minutes after eating brudh then.
As the saying goes - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!!

Ah - that makes sense. I don't have my breakfast for ages so maybe I haven't been doing it all wrong!

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ISeeMisledPeople · 28/06/2023 08:44

How long do your mouths stay minty after brushing?

I brush before breakfast, and by the time I've got my breakfast ready and the kettle boiled, it's not minty.

eyeslikebutterflies · 28/06/2023 08:50

Before, to remove bacteria and so that the toothpaste has longer on my teeth (I never rinse). Also floss morning and night.

Our dentist said before breakfast is preferable; with the kids it was usually after breakfast (when they were little) but we'd wait 30 mins due to the acids from breakfast foods and they'd swill first with plain water. If they had OJ for brekkie I'd wait longer as it's so acidic. Now they're older they brush before, neither has any fillings.

eyeslikebutterflies · 28/06/2023 08:50

(We were told it was to do with bacteria + the acid from foods damaging your teeth if you brushed too soon after eating.)

WhiskersPete · 28/06/2023 08:51

Urghhh minty breakfast. Gross.

johnd2 · 28/06/2023 08:58

Visited the dentist this week only as part of the treatment he told me I should brush my teeth before breakfast not after...
....health professionals should keep patients informed of new thinking in healthcare?

@DoIreallybrushmyteeththen You are saying you think they should do what you just said they did? Or do you mean they should have told you earlier?
Every time I go they have a different dentist and they tell me something slightly different, now it's rinse with salty water, then floss, the brush, then spit but don't rinse. Or something like that! NHS dentist place.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 28/06/2023 09:07

My understanding of the advice to clean before rather than after breakfast is because a lot of people have juice as a breakfast drink and it's not advised to brush straight afterwards as you can damage the enamel on your teeth . That's something I have read in various health articles (eg in magazines) around 10-20 years ago.

However in terms of looking after your teeth, I think advice on the correct way to brush has changed over the years. I have been told differently by various hygienists, dental professionals over fairly recent years .

Original poster

DoIreallybrushmyteeththen · 28/06/2023 09:16

You are saying you think they should do what you just said they did? Or do you mean they should have told you earlier?
Every time I go they have a different dentist and they tell me something slightly different, now it's rinse with salty water, then floss, the brush, then spit but don't rinse. Or something like that! NHS dentist place.
Ha - yes, but it might have helped a bit earlier as people seem to have been doing it this way for decades 😄. Can't say I fancy the salty water though...

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johnd2 · 28/06/2023 09:18

DoIreallybrushmyteeththen · 28/06/2023 09:16

You are saying you think they should do what you just said they did? Or do you mean they should have told you earlier?
Every time I go they have a different dentist and they tell me something slightly different, now it's rinse with salty water, then floss, the brush, then spit but don't rinse. Or something like that! NHS dentist place.
Ha - yes, but it might have helped a bit earlier as people seem to have been doing it this way for decades 😄. Can't say I fancy the salty water though...

Don't do it! Tried it once and that was enough, really puts you off your breakfast.
Take care.

Original poster

DoIreallybrushmyteeththen · 28/06/2023 09:19

My understanding of the advice to clean before rather than after breakfast is because a lot of people have juice as a breakfast drink and it's not advised to brush straight afterwards as you can damage the enamel on your teeth . That's something I have read in various health articles (eg in magazines) around 10-20 years ago.

However in terms of looking after your teeth, I think advice on the correct way to brush has changed over the years. I have been told differently by various hygienists, dental professionals over fairly recent years .

That also makes sense. I've just been thinking about what we were told with our kids about brushing and I can only remember them being told how to do it rather than when - and that at one point included swallowing the toothpaste which is worse than minty toast IMO!

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Original poster

DoIreallybrushmyteeththen · 28/06/2023 09:20

Don't do it! Tried it once and that was enough, really puts you off your breakfast.
Definitely one to miss 😬

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FeelingwearyFeeelingsmall · 28/06/2023 09:35

Even dentists disagree on this. I read an article recently which discussed this (in The Times I think ). In it a dentist said that even though she considered it best practice to brush her teeth before breakfast she also brushed them afterwards as she wanted the fresh taste.

its perfectionism - as long as you are brushing thoroughly twice a day you won't go far wrong.