You’ve likely heard that eating nourishing, plant-based foods and plenty of fiber and logging exercise can reduce your risks for chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. However, we don’t seem to talk about how habits can affect dental health as often, outside of brushing your teeth twice per day. Dentists report that understanding dental health steps and missteps is important, too.
“Knowing is half the battle,” stresses Dr. Kartik Antani, DMD, dentist at Napa Family Dental of Albuquerque. “If you want to prevent long-term dental issues, knowing how different things can harm our teeth is crucial.”
Dr. Antani notes that having the right information about your dental health lets you make informed choices, develop habits that’ll make your teeth smile and help you avoid issues like gum disease and cavities. He and other dentists warn that a common morning mistake could be destroying your dental health and shared what to do instead.
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Avoid This Morning Mistake for Better Dental Health, Dentists Say
This may surprise you: Don’t brush right after you finish breakfast.
“Brushing too soon after eating, especially after consuming acidic foods or drinks can be harmful because it may cause enamel erosion,” Dr. Antani says. “The enamel is softened by acids temporarily, and brushing right away can wear it down more quickly.”
Dr. Naomi Goldman, DMD, a cosmetic and restorative dentist and owner of Levy Goldman Dentistry, points out that breakfast staples like coffee, citrus and orange juice make the list of acidic foods. Dr. Goldman also warns that enamel is irreplaceable.
So, consider the waiting game between eating breakfast and brushing your teeth an exercise in delayed gratification. The erosion of enamel can leave “the teeth more vulnerable to problems including decay cavities and sensitivity,” says Dr. Marie M. Jackson, DMD, a general dentist and owner of Stellar Smile Center in New Jersey.
Related: The #1 Habit Dentists Want You To Skip for a Lifetime of Healthy Teeth and Gums (It’s Not Avoiding Sugar)
How Long Should You Wait After Eating Breakfast to Brush Your Teeth?
Dr. Jackson suggests waiting at least an hour before brushing your teeth.
“The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends waiting at least 60 minutes after eating or drinking to brush your teeth, which is what I recommend to my patients,” Dr. Jackson says. “This hour allows your saliva to do its job by washing away food debris and balancing the pH of your mouth, letting your enamel reharden.”
You may not want to wait that long after brushing your teeth if you want to nix the aftertaste of certain foods and drinks or improve your breath. In that case, try this strategy instead from Dr. Antani: “A good practice is to rinse your mouth right after eating, which also reduces the exposure to acid.”
Related: This Super-Common Dental Issue Is Associated With Heart Disease, Cardiologists Say
How to Brush Your Teeth Properly
1. Choose the right brush.
Dr. Antani suggests using a soft-bristle toothbrush, whether you use an electric or manual one.
Dr. Michael J. Wei, DDS, the founder of Manhattan Cosmetic in NYC, is partial to electric toothbrushes.
“Because they can offer more thorough cleaning than manual toothbrushes electric toothbrushes are also a great choice in order to enhance your brushing technique certain electric toothbrushes also come equipped with timers and pressure sensors,” Dr. Wei says.
Related: Dentists Share the #1 Unexpected Habit That Causes Cavities
2. Angles and shapes
Thinking of the brushing process in terms of angles and shapes can actually simplify things (even if you hated geometry).
“You should always make elliptical or circular motions at a 45 degree angle to the gum,” Dr. Antani says. “For an electric brush, do not make any motions — just let the automatic movement work.”‘
Dr. Antani also suggested imaging your teeth as a five-sided object.
“A thorough brush should include the front, back, chewing surfaces,” he says. “The remaining two surfaces are in-between teeth and should be flossed.”
Related: Should You Floss or Brush First? Dentists Reveal the Truth About Your Dental Routine
3. Time your brushing well.
It’s not just how long you wait after eating breakfast that counts. You’ll also want to keep looking at the clock as you brush — duration matters, too.
“Brushing should last about two minutes,” Dr. Antani explains. “A good way to break it down is to think of your mouth in four quadrants — upper right, upper left, lower left, lower right — and brush each quadrant for about 30 seconds each.”
Related: ‘I’m a Dentist, and This One Thing Causes More Cavities In January and February Than Anything Else’
4. Don’t forget the parts of your mouth that aren’t your pearly whites.
You’re not just cleaning your teeth.
“A thorough brush should also include gently brushing the gums and the tongue,” Dr. Antani says.
In fact, your tongue is one way to tell whether or not you’ve completed a thorough cleaning.
“You shouldn’t be able to feel any remaining plaque on your teeth when you run your tongue over them,” Dr. Goldman notes. “If you do you should go back and remove it.”
Related: Why Your Oral Health Can Impact Your Heart Health
5. Be kind to yourself and to your teeth!
You’re cleaning your teeth, not years-old grease off of a grill.
“Aggressive brushing or flossing can severely damage oral tissue, leading to gum recession, wear of the enamel and even tooth sensitivity,” Dr. Jackson says. “Use light, gentle pressure when flossing in a C-shaped motion.”
Related: The Most Common Toothbrushing Mistake, According to Dentists
6. Replace your brush regularly.
Your handy toothbrush needs regularly updates.
“Not only are worn out bristles less effective at cleaning your teeth and removing plaque, but they can also harm your gums and harbor bacteria,” Dr. Jackson says. “Aim to replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three months, or sooner if they look very frayed.”
Up Next:
Related: The One Super-Common Brushing Habit a Dentist Is Begging You to Break ASAP
Sources:
- Dr. Kartik Antani, DMD, dentist at Napa Family Dental of Albuquerque
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Dr. Marie M. Jackson, DMD, general dentist and owner of Stellar Smile Center in Montclair, New Jersey
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Dr. Naomi Goldman, DMD, cosmetic and restorative dentist and owner of Levy Goldman Dentistry
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“Morning Huddle.” ADA.
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Dr. Michael J. Wei, DDS, founder of Manhattan Cosmetic in NYC
