If you’re getting up in the morning and heading out of the home without brushing your teeth – you probably need to set your alarm a little earlier. Even if you only do this on the odd occasion (this writer has certainly been there – and regretted it), it could make you one of the many Brits who only brush their teeth once each day as a rule.
Yes, according to research, 3 in 10 of us brush either in the morning or before bed – and that’s it. The research, conducted by YouGov, also found that 6 in 10 of us brush twice each day, 8% three times or more, and a curious 2% of people either didn’t brush at all or didn’t know! (Watch out for those rare individuals, Britain!)
So, given that most of us brush our teeth as recommended – twice a day – and many of us only have to squeeze in one more teeth-cleaning session each day… when is actually the best time to brush your teeth?
Before, but never straight after, eating food
An article published in the Independent confirmed what many of us may think about the advice surrounding good dental health – it can be confusing! Yes, the standard advice is to brush twice each day, but when exactly is another matter. In the article, one of the UK’s leading dentists, Dr Richard Marques, states the following:
“In the morning and evening. You should wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth, otherwise the acid can damage the tooth surface. Brushing before bed is really important, as otherwise the food can sit against the surface of the teeth and cause them to decay overnight.”
So, if you tend to eat breakfast and then brush your teeth, each morning, or happen to be one of those who brush after every meal – you could actually be doing your teeth some harm. Plus, if you’re amongst the once-per-day brushers, and you tend to brush each morning – do heed Marques’ advice about why it’s essential to brush before bed.
Precaution is the best solution to poor dental health
In this article, a journalist from the Guardian went out to ask a few members of the British public about their brushing habits. The majority brushed twice each day, as recommended, while others were honest about being in the once-per-day bracket.
However, of those who brushed more than twice each day, one woman originally from Korea said that she brushed three times daily due to the high volume of sweet foods in her diet. As we’ve all known since our first visit to the dentist during childhood, sweet things aren’t all that great for our teeth.
However, this person had certainly recognised that and adjusted her brushing habits accordingly. While there are plenty of methods of repairing damaged teeth, teeth bonding from Ten Dental being a particularly effective one, there really is no substitute for knowing exactly when and how often we need to brush our teeth. Prevention is always better than cure.
