When to Brush, Floss, and Rinse Teeth According to Dentists
The burning question today is a collection of dental difficulties that have arisen from a discussion among Lifehacker employees, during which it was revealed that each of us – and some of our dentists – have very strong opinions about the correct timing and order of performing the various stages of dental treatment. hygiene. The more we chatted, the more confused we got. It all started with a revelation:
my dentist just yelled at me for brushing my teeth AFTER breakfast, not BEFORE
“You need to brush your teeth right away when you wake up, otherwise it will look like you are eating from a dirty plate.”
really …. does anyone know this?
I didn’t fucking do that!
On the one hand, when you wake up, your mouth is disgusting (especially if you are wearing a night watchman or retainer). On the other hand, what’s the point of brushing your teeth and then immediately go to the kitchen to get your teeth dirty? One thing led to another, and soon we began to discuss another point:
related question: does it matter if you floss before or after brushing? My dentist advises flossing afterwards, but I’m wondering if it’s because you’re more likely to continue flossing if you see how much you missed that brushing.
I’ve always thought of flossing as the finishing touch to a basic cleaning job, but there are a few very dedicated followers in the flossing camp. And then someone dropped this bomb:
We went through this. Do not mop the dirty floor. Use dental floss first.
Rinse your mouthwash, then brush.
Since the mouthwash was variable, all hope of reaching a friendly consensus was lost. It’s time to call the experts.
Brush before breakfast if you can
There is no evidence that fears that bacteria in the morning mouth will make you sick if you eat them with breakfast, so brushing your teeth in the morning is not a must. Although now that I think about it, breakfast before brushing my teeth seems disgusting.
The only way to avoid is brushing your teeth right after breakfast if your breakfast includes orange juice or anything really sour. (Coffee is good though.) The acid in food interacts with the enamel on your teeth , so you can cause microscopic damage to the enamel if you brush it right away. Ideally, you should brush your teeth before breakfast, or wait a little afterward – 30 minutes should be fine – before brushing your teeth. In the meantime, you can rinse your mouth with liquid if you like.
But don’t worry too much. “This is a discussion like ‘how many angels are on the head of a pin,'” says Dr. Grant Ritchie, a Kansas -based dentist who writes regularly about evidence-based dentistry. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a patient whose enamel has been wiped off, I would say,“ Oh, if you just waited 30 minutes after drinking your orange juice, it wouldn’t have happened. ”
It is better to brush your teeth after breakfast than not brushing your teeth at all. I mentioned a colleague who brushes his teeth after drinking orange juice, and Dr. Richie said, “I bet when he is 100 years old, he will still have enamel on his teeth, even if he does it wrong.”
Thread anytime
There is no scientific consensus on whether to floss your teeth before or after. Dr. Ritchie says he personally does both: brush-thread-brush. But he emphasizes that this is not necessary, and in any case, it is normal.
“Look, if you brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and use dental floss or other means to floss twice a day, that’s all right,” – says Dr. Alice Boghossian, a spokesman for the American Dental Association. “God bless people if they feel comfortable after flossing, provided they brush their teeth between their teeth once a day.”
Mouthwash comes last
“A mouthwash is not a necessary step to maintain good oral health,” says Dr. Bogosian, so if you just need the basics, you can stop right away. Most mouthwashes exist only to keep your breath smelling clean and pleasant, which is why she says it makes sense to rinse your mouth as the last step. This will keep you feeling fresh.
However, some mouthwashes have special uses, and Dr. Richie says he will recommend them based on your oral health. Listerine kills germs, and your dentist may prescribe stronger mouthwashes. Use them as your dentist says and they are likely to be the last in the sequence. Fluoride mouthwashes that strengthen enamel on teeth also work best if used as a last resort. Thus, the fluoride remains on the surface of the teeth for as long as possible.
Ultimately, both dentists agreed that if you ask these questions at all, you are fine. They are worried about people who don’t brush their teeth or floss regularly.
What are you worried about? If you have any burning questions about health or the human body, please email elizabeth.skwarecki@lifehacker.com . Anonymous inquiries are welcomed by email or at bethskw.sarahah.com .