Mostly cleaned incorrectly Brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

Common Mouth Hygiene Mistakes: brushing your teeth before or after breakfast?

"Do not forget to brush your teeth after eating": Most people learn this phrase early in life. But many brush their teeth in the morning after getting up and thus before the first meal. Is it better to devote yourself to oral hygiene before or after breakfast? Experts clarify.

To prevent tooth decay and toothache

Nothing prevents tooth decay, gingivitis and toothache as well as regular brushing. When it comes to oral hygiene, the right technique is also important. Shaking and brushing is particularly useful, according to dentists. You should also clean the interdental spaces at least once a day. But when is the right time to brush your teeth? Health experts clarify.

Some people reach for the toothbrush in the morning, others wait until after the meal. But is it right to brush your teeth before or after breakfast? (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

Clean teeth before or after breakfast?

"Actually - as we have learned at some point - you should clean your teeth after each main meal. That is not always feasible, therefore: at least twice a day ", explains Dirk Kropp from the proDente initiative in a message from the dpa news agency.

Best after breakfast and especially after dinner. Dental care is much more important in the evening than the next morning.

However, do not apply to the toothbrush immediately after eating. "If it works, you should wait 30 minutes, especially if you have taken acidic drinks or food," said the expert.

After this time, there is no danger of brushing away the softened enamel surface.

Do not reach for the toothbrush directly after eating

"The phrase" after eating - do not forget to brush your teeth "is not considered when eating acidic food. Rather, brushing your teeth immediately after eating harms, for example, oranges, because the enamel is superficially softened and can therefore rather "brush away", "explains proDente on their website.

So if you like fresh, sour fruit for breakfast, you should clean your teeth better before you eat, according to the experts.

If you do not want to wait half an hour after eating, "you should at least eat some calcium-containing fruit, such as yoghurt or cheese, or drink a glass of milk after the fruit," advises the initiative.

"The calcium ions at least partially compensate for the mineral losses in the enamel caused by the acid," say the experts.

Experts recommend the KAI technique

The German Society of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DGZMK) points out in a statement that it is above all important that fixed times are found in the personal life, "to which the oral and oral hygiene regularly, without time pressure and practiced with concentration. "

The brushing should take on average two minutes, with some groups such as seniors or children, but also more time may be needed. Once a day you should also clean the interdental spaces.

Experts usually recommend the so-called KAI technique. This means that first the chewing surfaces, then the outer surfaces and then the inside of the teeth are cleaned.

The right equipment

At the bi-annual checkup with the dentist or with the professional tooth cleaning one can inquire whether well enough was cleaned.

There are sometimes used dye tablets, which provide information about where the teeth are not optimally cleaned.

Too much pressure during brushing is discouraged, as this may damage the enamel.

As a rule, dentists recommend brushing with soft to medium-hard, rounded bristles and a short head. These also make it easier to reach the back teeth. Whether manually or electrically, according to experts, in principle not so important.

The toothpaste should contain fluoride - 500 ppm in children and 1,500 ppm in adults. So-called whitening toothpastes with coarse plaster bodies can damage the enamel and are therefore not recommended. (Ad)