When is the Best Time to Brush Your Teeth?

You have probably heard that you should be brushing your teeth twice a day, but does it matter when you brush?  Preferred times are: once in the morning and once in the evening.  However, don’t hold back if you feel the desire to brush midday!  Important: no matter what, ALWAYS BRUSH YOUR TEETH BEFORE BEDTIME!  When you sleep, your bodily systems rest too, which means you don’t produce much saliva at night.  Believe us when we tell you that saliva helps fight tooth decay. If you don’t brush & floss before bed, you leave all of the plaque and food debris on your teeth from the whole day.  Coupled with decreased salivary production, the cavity-causing bacteria have a party!  So, help yourself by always bushing & flossing before bedtime.

Here are some other helpful tips:

• Brush your teeth 30 minutes or more after you eat food or drink acidic drinks.  Bacteria on your teeth release acid when interacting with sugar.  The released acid attacks your tooth enamel, making it weak which can allow your teeth to get damaged when you brush them immediately after eating.
• Brush your teeth before you eat a meal.  Brushing will clear away a lot of harmful bacteria which means less damage to your teeth.  Brushing your teeth after a meal is helpful, too – just not when the food is very acidic (soda, coffee, citrus, etc.)
• Remember to floss as well as brush.  Brushing focuses on the surface of your teeth and gums, and floss is the only sure way to get between your teeth.
• Limit your snacking.  Every time you eat, you activate harmful bacteria.  You’ll see fewer cavities the less you eat in between teeth cleanings.