"The bristles rub the acid into the porous enamel of the teeth, which can cause permanent damage over time," Kaplan says. "Even though enamel is one of the hardest structures of your body, most similar to the calcium content in our bones, the physical action of brushing can weaken the tooth structure," she explains. Coffee is extremely acidic, however, and "one of the biggest concerns when brushing after consuming something acidic is erosion to the enamel," Kaplan says. Many people have been taught to brush their teeth after drinking coffee in order to reduce or prevent staining. "The more you can flush out food and bacteria, the more optimal oral health you will achieve," she points out. If you don't have time to wait around for an hour to brush after breakfast (for instance, if you eat on the way to work), swish with water so food doesn't stay lodged between the teeth and drinks that have staining potential don't sit there all day, Kaplan encourages. For this reason, the American Dental Association recommends waiting 60 minutes after eating those foods to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth after consuming something acidic, such as coffee or fruit, can harm the enamel of your teeth. If, however, you consume acidic foods or beverages for breakfast, it may be better to brush before breakfast. It's the best way to ensure removal of food debris and beverages that can stain your teeth, she says.īrushing after breakfast, instead of before, means your teeth are free of food particles for more of the day, which means the bacteria in your mouth have less time to metabolize sugars and cause cavities or enamel decay. Madison Kaplan, a registered dental hygienist in California, says she encourages of her patients to brush after breakfast. However, the twice-a-day rule doesn't tell you anything about timing. Those guidelines established by the American Dental Association have been in place for what seems like forever, and they're the bare minimum for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. You brush your teeth once in the morning and once at night.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |