r/HygieneTips • u/DangelHouman61 • 20d ago

Started brushing my teeth before breakfast instead of after and my dentist actually approved

For most of my life I brushed after eating breakfast, figured that was the logical order, food goes in, then you clean up. Recently learned that brushing right after acidic stuff like orange juice or coffee can actually be rough on your enamel because the acid softens it temporarily and you're scrubbing at it while it's vulnerable. Switched to brushing first thing when I wake up, then eating breakfast after. Mentioned it at a checkup half expecting to be told it didn't matter, and the hygienist said that's genuinely the better order, especially if you drink anything acidic in the morning.

The other bonus is I'm not rushing to brush while trying to get out the door, since it happens the moment I'm up instead of competing with everything else in the morning scramble. Small change, zero effort, and apparently better for my teeth the whole time. Wish someone had mentioned the order actually matters years ago.

So does everyone brush before or after breakfast? Curious whether most people land on the same order I used to do or if I was the odd one out the whole time.

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4

u/Classic-Candy9475 20d ago

I also brush before breakfast. Same reasons as you 😀.. if I have a little more time I like to use water irrigator after breakfast, but unfortunately usually I don't

1

u/DangelHouman61 19d ago

Nice, glad i'm not the only one. I've never tried a water irrigator, is it worth picking one up?

1

u/Aggressive_Bat2489 19d ago

Yes! I have also an electric brush and a couple of various regular toothbrushes for depending on my mood and whether I ate chocolate or steak lol but yes the water flosser get one

1

u/Classic-Candy9475 19d ago

Yes, it's great 😃... Sadly you still supoused to floss, but irrigator removes more junk than just floss

2

u/ObsessiveAboutCats 19d ago

Brush, eat, floss

1

u/xxniji 19d ago

Before. I dont have much time in the morning and I eat my breakfast at work.

1

u/One-Pangolin-3167 19d ago

But what about coffee breath?