Takeaway. When you're looking to protect your tooth enamel, brushing right after you wake up in the morning is better than brushing your teeth after breakfast. If you have to brush your teeth after breakfast, try to wait 30 to 60 minutes before you brush.
Increase your saliva production.
Brushing first thing in the morning triggers saliva production so your mouth begins cleaning itself before, during, and after your meals. Saliva also helps break down food and kills harmful bacteria.
But if you're planning to eat or drink something acidic — such as grapefruit, pineapple, orange juice or even coffee — it's better to brush before breakfast. That's because acid attacks your teeth after you eat, weakening your tooth enamel.
Just like everything else in your body, your saliva production slows down while you sleep. This means that bacteria has a chance to multiply and eat away at the enamel of your teeth. The sooner you brush your teeth in the morning, the sooner you can get rid of it.
While you sleep, the bacteria in your mouth tend to multiply. That is why you may sometimes wake up with “morning breath” or a mossy taste in your mouth. Brushing first thing in the morning fights those bacteria and coats your enamel with a protective barrier that will help protect against acids in your morning meal.
So if you brush before breakfast, you can help avoid plaque and bacteria from setting in your breakfast. Those who brush after breakfast, have a better chance of plaque and bacteria to mix with their pancakes, waffles, cereal, milk, coffee and orange juice.
The change of acid levels in your mouth
A breakfast high in sugars and acids, e.g. sugary cereal, orange juice etc can change the pH level in your mouth which weakens the tooth enamel. Brushing straight after you eat can result in you scraping off the softened enamel letting the acid go even deeper into the teeth.
Twice a day
In addition to brushing before bed you should brush your teeth at one other time during the day. Brushing your teeth after breakfast removes any residual food and plaque allowing you to start the day feeling fresh and clean.
Eating after brushing teeth
While some foods are easier on your teeth than others, as a general rule you should wait at least thirty minutes after brushing to eat. It's just playing it safe. A better way to handle things, however, is to plan when you're brushing your teeth more carefully.
Most people brush, floss and then use mouthwash. And some just brush, skipping the other two steps. As it turns out, it's actually more effective to floss, use mouthwash, then brush, according to dentists — and they don't recommend skipping any steps.
However, brushing your teeth between meals isn't necessarily a bad thing. You should refrain from brushing more than three times a day, because brushing too often will wear down the enamel of your teeth. You must brush at least twice, but not more than three times a day.
Brushing immediately after consuming something acidic can damage the enamel layer of the tooth. Waiting about 30 minutes before brushing allows tooth enamel to remineralize and build itself back up.
Brushing your teeth in both the morning and at night is important for healthy smiles! During the day and throughout the night, our mouths encounter different types of bacteria and produce saliva as a defense to fight the development of tooth decay and gum disease.
Brushing immediately after eating breakfast may actually cover your teeth with remnants of acidic food, which weakens your enamel. Breakfast staples are some of the worst foods for your tooth enamel, including: orange juice.
Brushing after breakfast, instead of before, means your teeth are free of food particles for more of the day, which means the bacteria in your mouth have less time to metabolize sugars and cause cavities or enamel decay.
While some foods are easier on your teeth than others, as a general rule you should wait at least thirty minutes after brushing to eat. It's just playing it safe. A better way to handle things, however, is to plan when you're brushing your teeth more carefully.