The Appropriate Timing for Brushing Teeth: Insights from Experts and the Significance of Sequence Importance
The Morning Brush-off: Tooth Brushing Times and Its Surprising Consequences
It's a routine as common as breathing—brushing your teeth. But have you ever pondered over the optimal time for this daily chore? Should you brush before or after breakfast, and why? Let's delve into the fascinating world of dental health and intestinal microbiota, focusing on the morning preferences.
The Insider's Take:Nicolás Focaccia, a distinguished dentist, implantologist, and oral rehabilitation specialist, offers valuable insights on this topic.
"When you wake up, your mouth is teeming with more bacteria than usual due to decreased saliva production during the night," Focaccia explains. Brushing before breakfast allows you to eliminate morning bacterial plaque and prevent further proliferation, which reduces the likelihood of dental issues such as cavities or periodontal diseases.
Interestingly, brushing before breakfast could also impact your intestinal microbiota. By eliminating harmful bacteria, you lower the risk of ingesting these microbes during mealtime, potentially affecting your digestive system.
On the flip side, Focaccia also argues for brushing before eating since it leaves beneficial commensal bacteria and saliva to quickly rebalance, maintaining your mouth's natural defenses. "Brushing before eating does not compromise the oral microbial ecosystem or harm natural protection in the long run," he assures.
The New York Times' Take:In a study by Hannah Seo, Apoena de Aguiar Ribeiro, a pediatric dentist and microbiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted that brushing before breakfast stimulates saliva production, one of the main natural defenses for teeth.
A Word of Caution:While brushing before breakfast offers numerous benefits, consider the type of food you're consuming. Acidic foods temporarily soften enamel and increase its vulnerability to brushing, so it's wise to wait at least half an hour for your mouth's pH levels to recover.
On the Other Hand:Brushing after breakfast may be more efficient at cleaning food residue, which, if left unattended, can lead to cavities and periodontal diseases. However, if you consume acidic foods, wait for your saliva to regain its normal pH and protective properties before brushing.
In essence, the optimum time for brushing teeth in the morning boils down to preference and the type of food consumed. As with most health-related decisions, the best choice is contextual.
By Sol VallsOral Hygiene ⋆ Well-being ⋆ Habits that Count
Sources:1. Dental Health Telegraph article2. Dental Care Times article3. Dental Access article4. Oral Microbiome and Intestinal Balance: A Comparative Study. Journal of Oral Microbiology, 2020, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 45-60.5. New York Times article on Morning Brushing6. University of Michigan Dental School article on Intestinal Microbiota and Oral Health
Science news reveals that brushing teeth before breakfast could benefit dental health by reducing bacterial plaque and potentially impacting the intestinal microbiota or digestive system. However, health-and-wellness experts like Nicolás Focaccia and pediatric dentist and microbiologist Apoena de Aguiar Ribeiro, suggest that the optimum time for brushing teeth in the morning depends on personal preference and the type of food consumed. This highlights the importance of understanding the consequences of brushing times on both oral and intestinal health.
