It’s something that most of us do twice a day without fail.
But when it comes to brushing your teeth in the morning, should you do it before or after breakfast?
People who brush before their breakfast tend to argue that this helps them to start their day feeling clean and fresh.
But those who prefer brushing after breakfast maintain that there’s no point brushing first thing, only to then spoil their clean mouth with toast or cereal.
So, what does the science say?
According to Colgate, the answer is simple – it’s better to brush before breakfast.
‘You don’t want to drink your morning orange juice with the taste of minty toothpaste in your mouth,’ the company explained.
‘However, it may be more beneficial for your teeth to do just that!’
It’s something that most of us do twice a day without fail. But when it comes to brushing your teeth in the morning, should you do it before or after breakfast? (stock image)
From a young age, we’re taught that brushing our teeth twice a day is vital for avoiding gum disease, tooth decay, and cracked teeth.
The second brush of the day is done by most people just before bedtime.
But the timing of the first brush remains a contentious issue.
According to Colgate, you should always brush your teeth first thing in the morning, before you tuck in to your breakfast.
‘When you wake up you may notice “morning breath” which is a buildup of bacteria that multiplies in your mouth overnight,’ the company explained.
‘Brushing your teeth before eating will get rid of this bacteria and kickstart the production of saliva, while the fluoride in your toothpaste will create a protective barrier over the surface of your teeth.’
Waiting to brush your teeth until you’ve eaten can actually do more harm than good, Colgate warns.
‘By immediately brushing teeth after eating, you might rationalise that you’ll get rid of bacteria before they attack your tooth enamel,’ it said.
Waiting to brush your teeth until you’ve eaten can actually do more harm than good, Colgate warns (stock image)
‘However, this can end up being more damaging to your teeth.
‘If you’ve consumed anything acidic, you should avoid brushing your teeth for at least an hour.
‘Foods containing citric acid, like oranges, grapefruit and lemons, can weaken tooth enamel.
‘Brushing your teeth too soon after eating them can further damage the enamel in its already weakened state.’
In terms of the act itself, Colgate advises using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste and brushing for two minutes using short, circular motions, before spitting out any excess toothpaste.
It also suggests using a tongue scraper, dental floss or interdental brushes to clean between teeth, and swishing your mouth out with an alcohol-free mouthwash.
‘To sum up, brushing your teeth when you wake up is better than brushing after breakfast as it protects your tooth enamel more,’ Colgate concluded.
‘If you have to brush your teeth after breakfast, wait for 30-60 minutes after eating.
‘Whether you brush teeth before or after breakfast, both options are better than not brushing at all!’
The advice comes shortly after a scientist settled the debate on whether or not you should shower in the morning or at night.
According to Primrose Freestone, a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, the answer is clear.
And it’s bad news for fans of evening showers.
‘As a microbiologist, I am a day shower advocate,’ Dr Freestone explained in an article for The Conversation.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .