Many people like to brush their teeth after every meal to maintain a healthy, shiny smile. It might sound like a good habit but there are some things to keep in mind before brushing your teeth after a meal. In some cases, over-brushing can damage your teeth instead of saving them from diseases.
Brushing your teeth right after consuming any acidic food or drink can lead to enamel erosion because acidic chemistry in the mouth weakens enamel. Wait at least 30 minutes before brushing, or rinse with water to help force the chemistry in your mouth to reset faster than saliva will.
Brushing is a crucial part of oral hygiene, but it should be done carefully to avoid causing any harm to your teeth. Protecting your teeth from enamel damage, acidic attack, and over brushing is key. Let’s take a look at the best brushing methods.
Should You Brush Your Teeth After Eating?
Brushing your teeth after eating sounds like a good idea in the sense that you can get rid of leftover sugar and carbohydrates from your teeth. After consuming a sugary dish or something high in carbohydrates, the chances of oral bacterial growth are high. You can, in theory, prevent that by brushing your teeth after eating such foods.
However, it isn’t that simple. Some foods, especially acidic and citrus foods, cause enamel erosion by reacting with the minerals of your tooth enamel. If you brush your teeth right after consuming such foods, it can do more harm than good for your teeth.
Acid weakens and dissolves enamel. So, if you brush your teeth right after consuming an acidic drink, you can stimulate further enamel erosion. Enamel erosion is permanent damage that can lead to tooth decay and other oral problems.
The best thing to avoid damage after acidic food is to rinse your mouth with plain water instead of brushing your teeth. Moreover, saliva can neutralize the acid and save your teeth from further acidic erosion. So, let saliva do its job and promote saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum like Trident (on Amazon).
Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, strawberries, etc. have the same effect as acidic drinks and food.
Do You Need to Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal?
Brushing your teeth after dinner and breakfast is the ideal option, and it’s what most dentists recommend. Overbrushing can cause enamel erosion instead of making your teeth healthy.
The main purpose of brushing teeth after breakfast is to get rid of all the food particles that can cause bacterial and acidic attacks throughout the day. If you eat something afterward, you can consider rinsing your mouth instead of brushing.
The reason why you should brush your teeth after dinner is to keep your mouth plaque-free the whole night.
In most cases, you shouldn’t brush your teeth right after a meal that contains acidic food. If you eat something sweet or high in carbohydrates, rinsing immediately is highly recommended. By rinsing your teeth you get rid of the particles before they can form plaque and damage your teeth.
Brushing your teeth after every meal may be a personal preference but brushing and flossing before bed is most important. If you brush your teeth more than twice daily, consider a soft-bristled brush, and don’t brush too hard. Protecting your enamel’s integrity is crucial. A good toothbrush option is the Colgate 360 Extra Soft Toothbrush (on Amazon).
How Long Should You Wait to Brush Your Teeth After Eating?
If you’ve just eaten, you should wait at least 30-40 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Brushing teeth after consuming acidic foods and beverages (which is most things these days) can further damage the enamel. It causes acidic erosion which is irreversible in most cases. Once your enamel loses its integrity, it can’t get it back, no matter how many treatments you go through.
You can also use fluoride toothpaste (on Amazon) to strengthen your enamel and protect it from eroding.
How Can You Keep Your Teeth Strong and Healthy?
You can follow the tips below to keep your teeth strong and healthy:
- Brush your teeth twice daily and floss daily using suitable products.
- Avoid acidic and sugary foods.
- Eat nutritious meals that strengthen your enamel.
- Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen the enamel.
- Don’t let your mouth get dry and stay hydrated.
- Get medical conditions such as bruxism, acid reflux, etc. treated. Frequent vomiting causes acid erosion of enamel.
- Use a mouthguard while playing sports to avoid sports injuries.
- Get yourself a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid brushing too hard.
- Wait at least 30 minutes before you brush your teeth after eating or drinking.
- Visit your dentist regularly and always listen to your dentist’s advice.
