It is advised to brush your teeth at least twice a day, but when? Just before bed is a gimme because you’re about to lie mostly still for 6+ hours. Best to not leave food particles to fester.

What’s the best time for an earlier brushing? After breakfast? After lunch? After work/school?

Plus, what’s up with TV and movies having breakfast scenes where they get up and head right out the door? Did they already brush and now they’re going to leave food to fester all day? Eww.

  • Cyborganism@lemmy.ca
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    2 years ago

    I brush my teeth first thing in the morning when I wake up, before breakfast, to ensure I have the perfect coffee breath for the whole day after breakfast.

  • 👁️👄👁️@lemm.ee
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    2 years ago

    After my morning coffee to try and reduce coffee staining teeth

    Also 100% recommend water flossers, they’re a game changer cuz I was really bad about flossing normally

  • shapesandstuff@feddit.de
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    2 years ago

    I remember reading you shouldn’t do it immediately after breakfast due to acids etc increasing the risk of damaging you teeth with the fairly rough brush.
    Something like 40 minutes after breakfast would be ideal. I tend to do it maybe 10-20 minutes after bc i have to get ready 🤷

  • NorthWestWind@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    Before bed and before breakfast. Bacteria grow in your mouth during your sleep, so it’s best to keep them low when you start sleeping, and kill them again before you swallow them with breakfast.

  • Thelsim@sh.itjust.works
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    2 years ago

    I ermm… only brush in the morning, after I had my shower. I know I should brush at least twice and I really wish I had the motivation to do so, but somehow I just find myself in bed without brushing.
    But, to make up for it a little, I brush my teeth very meticulously for a minimum of 6 to 8 minutes. I follow intermittent fasting, so my next meal won’t be for another couple of hours.
    My dentist is always full of praise during my half yearly checkup so I must be doing something right?

    • howrar@lemmy.ca
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      2 years ago

      I remember reading that only once a day is necessary if you brush properly, but most people don’t brush properly, so the recommendation is twice a day to make up for that.

      • Thelsim@sh.itjust.works
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        2 years ago

        Thanks for letting me know, it makes me feel a little less guilty.
        I still should make a change somehow, but I’ll figure it out eventually :)

  • MTK@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    Build up of bacteria at night means that if you eat in the morning before brushing there will be more bacteria to break down the food into acid which will break down your teeth.

    Ideal is to brush first but also brush after each meal*

    *as long as the acidity in your mouth is 5.5pH or less your teeth are being broken down by the acid (which means that brushing would be scrubing them with acid and making it worse) in which case you should wait until your spit (which is a buffer solution) returns your pH to normal. Since most foods are acidic the recommendation is to wait 30 mnutes after eating and then brush. Or you can eat suger free gum right after a meal, this will trick your brain to produce more spit which will return the normal pH faster.

    My personal system is like so:

    Wake up

    Use dental jet floss (water floss)

    Brush teeth

    After any foods eaten chew gum for 10-30 minutes

    Floss

    Dental jet (if at home)

    If I’m at home and have 30 minutes to wait between mouthwash and brushing then I use mouthwash, wait 30 min then brush, if not then just brushing and if I’m not at home then just mouthwash.

    Repeat for as many things as I eat that day.

    Before bed:

    Floss

    Dental jet

    Mouthwash

    Wait 30 min

    Brush

  • l3enc@lemmy.zip
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    2 years ago

    I think ideally you’d brush your teeth after every meal, but that would require having a toothbrush with you at all times and I’m too lazy for that. Brushing twice a day is good enough; once around 10-15 minutes after eating breakfast/ the first meal of the day and right before bed.

    • vpklotar@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      I think the problem with brushing too many times is that the toothpaste itself is also somewhat abresive. So, brushing too often will result in you destroying your teeth. Especially if using “whitening” pastes.

  • Sowatee@lemmy.ml
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    2 years ago

    Before bed 99% of the time. If I’m leaving the house then I’ll brush before I do.

  • state_electrician@discuss.tchncs.de
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    2 years ago

    As far as I know, getting cavities is a lot about genetics. I floss and brush after dinner and breakfast and don’t overthink it and I’ve been fine for many decades now.

    • ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      Getting cavities is a lot about the prevelance of sugar and highly-refined carbs. Some people are more susceptible than others due to differences in saliva, but the typical western diet is horrible for your teeth.

  • NarendraCzar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 years ago

    Bro its not just about the 6 hours, There will be much less saliva and other secretions from your mouth when you sleep. Actually saliva slows down bacteria growth, thats why your breath smells after you wake up

  • SilentStorms@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 years ago

    After breakfast than floss+brush before bed. Before breakfast doesn’t make sense to me because you’re brushing twice when you haven’t eaten anything.

  • ChexMax@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    First thing after I wake up, very thoroughly with a soft toothbrush. I can’t start my day with gross mouth. Definitely never right after coffee (though I understand the impulse). I never seem to get around to it at night. My dentist seems satisfied. If I leave the house in the evening, I brush before I go out.

    • shapesandstuff@feddit.de
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      2 years ago

      how can you sleep with “gross mouth”??
      Just brush before going to sleep, like it’s a fixed part of the process… i’m in the bathroom right before bed anyway. Pee, brush teeth, shower/wash/comb, toss my clothes in the laundry basket…

      • ChexMax@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        Because my mouth isn’t gross at night. Eating and drinking throughout the day keeps it neutral. I drink a lot of water. In the morning it’s just been sitting still all night and is gross to me. I don’t do a bathroom routine right before bed. I’m usually in the living room and go straight to bed. Maybe pee if I need to, but I change into comfy clothes as soon as I get home from work, and I shower in the morning