Do Not Brush Your Teeth Too Soon After a Meal

Dentist recommend that their patients brush their teeth twice a day – preferably once in the morning and once at night. Some individuals, however, prefer to brush more than just twice in a twenty-four hour period, often after a meal. While this shows a good effort in taking care of their oral health, these patients are actually not making the best choice for their teeth.

Research has shown that brushing the teeth within twenty minutes after eating a meal or drinking a cup of coffee or soda is actually damaging. The act could actually be pushing left over acid further into the dentin, thus affecting an inner layer of the tooth. Drinking acidic liquids are particularly dangerous, as they break down enamel, leaving the inner layers vulnerable. This means that when you are brushing at this time, you are damaging the dentin, and affecting the tooth permanently. Therefore your teeth could erode much faster than they would if you hadn’t brushed at all.

The study consisted of three different groups who wore dentin samples for the experiment – those who brushed their teeth right after eating or drinking, those who waited a certain amount of time before brushing, and those who did not brush at all. The researchers found that waiting at least thirty minutes allowed the teeth to remineralize, and thus gain that layer of protection needed to keep them safe during brushing.

If you are concerned about the condition of your teeth, whether due to brushing patterns or simply your normal dental hygiene routine, schedule a dental cleaning and exam today.

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