Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Everyone knows that they should be brushing their teeth twice a day to get rid of plaque. However, have you ever put thought into when you should be brushing your teeth in the morning? Should you be doing it as the first thing you do when you wake up, or waiting until after you have your breakfast? Here is what you need to know about when you should be brushing your teeth.

You Still Have Plaque On Your Teeth In The Morning

Even if you brush your teeth right before you go to bed, you are still going to wake up with a layer of plaque on your teeth. There is bacteria in your mouth no matter how much you brush, and it builds up while you're sleeping. The problem with this plaque and bacteria is that you need to remove it first thing in the morning, because you do not want it mixing with the foods that you have for breakfast. Those foods actually mix with the plaque and cause it to secrete acids on your teeth, which make your teeth more prone to having decay. By brushing your teeth first thing in the morning, you are going to get rid of the plaque that formed on your teeth overnight. This reduces the chance of having tooth decay form from those foods you eat for breakfast. 

You May Be Brushing Too Soon After Breakfast

The other problem with waiting to brush your teeth until after you finish eating is that you may be doing it too soon after you finish breakfast. While dentists do recommend that you brush after every meal, you also cannot go straight from eating to brushing. This is due to the nature of what most people eat for breakfast, which are acidic foods. Things like orange juice, coffee, pastries, and eggs are acidic in nature and not necessarily good for your teeth. If you end up brushing right after eating, you could be scrubbing the acidity into your teeth, and potentially cause damage to your teeth over time.

The problem is that most people eat, brush, and run out the door quickly in the morning. If you brush after breakfast, you want to give your mouth about half an hour for your saliva to naturally wash away the acidity on your teeth and cause the acidity to neutralize. If you do not have time, you need to rinse your mouth out with water so that most of the acidity is gone. 

For more information on a dentist, contact your local dental practice in Greenville, SC.