I've been doing it wrong all my life

[DoIreallybrushmyteeththen]

Visited the dentist this week only as part of the treatment he told me I should brush my teeth before breakfast not after. I was taught as a child at both Brownies and primary school - apart from my parents - and nobody has ever said anything to me since. I have always gone to the dentist every 6 months. It was clearly the method used 40 years ago but AIBU to think someone should have said something if science decided there were better methods? IABU to expect to be told - I should keep on top of it myself, IANBU - health professionals should keep patients informed of new thinking in healthcare?

I remember a medical student friend discussing the benefits of brushing first thing rather than after breakfast in about 1980.

Older relative is a dentist. If you brush your teeth after breakfast you’re swishing all the acid around your mouth, thinking of Jam, sugary cereal, fruit, juice etc.

We have always brushed before breakfast.

I've always cleaned my teeth before breakfast - in fact, I clean them as soon as I get up. I can't imagine sitting around in the morning with morning breath! Ew! By the way, as long as you rinse properly, it won't make your toast taste minty!

Me too, I don't want to have to go back upstairs afterwards. Plus I get toothpaste down me as I'm basically a child. And I don't eat breakfast until later in the morning.

I have always cleaned my teeth after breakfast (giving it half an hour as apparently it's not good straight after). The thought of my first coffee tasting minty 🤢. Also, it feels right to be clean and fresh after eating. I mean I don't brush before lunch or dinner.

I've always brushed mine before. Breakfast never tastes minty. I would hate to be walking around with my mouth feeling unclean from the night.
I brush my teeth, get dressed, get breakfast, so the toothpaste taste is gone by the time I eat.
No chance of forgetting if I do it as soon as I get up either.

As a fully grown adult, no I don't think you should really expect to be told when to brush your teeth, unless you specifically see a dental hygienist and ask about it. They won't tell grown adults this routinely, it would be quite patronising.

I think current advice is not to rinse so that fluoride or other active ingredients remain on your teeth - just spit any froth.