Should I brush my teeth before or after breakfast?

Many of our patients are plagued by the same question: Is it better to brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

We know from personal experience that this topic can sometimes lead to heated discussions even among experts. So it’s all the better that we’re fortunate enough to be able to simply ask Prof. Jonke for advice—because if anyone knows, it’s Prof. Jonke.

Let’s get his answer out of the way right away: “It depends on your eating habits and whether you’re wearing braces (e.g., the ‘invisible’ Invisalign method or traditional brackets).” Before we explain which type of breakfast eater should brush their teeth when, here are a few tips on how to brush your teeth properly.

How to Brush Your Teeth Properly

Our dental hygienists’ motto is: “From red to white—at least twice a day!” Whether you use an electric toothbrush (which we recommend) or a simple manual toothbrush, you should always start gently at the gum line and brush each tooth individually from red to white. If, on the other hand, you brush horizontally or toward the gums, this can lead to gum recession and enamel damage over time—an unpleasant and usually painful condition.

Use this technique to brush all your teeth. You can then brush the chewing surfaces horizontally from front to back or in circular motions. This completes the first step toward good oral hygiene. You should also use unwaxed dental floss or interdental brushes at least once a day.

Why is brushing your teeth properly so important?

Brushing your teeth properly and regularly twice a day prevents plaque buildup and the associated unpleasant side effects, such as cavities, gum inflammation, discoloration, or bad breath. In addition, brushing with fluoride toothpaste strengthens tooth enamel (the protective shield of our teeth) and thus helps prevent tooth decay.

By gently brushing your teeth from red to white, you remove plaque and dislodge food particles from between your teeth.

However, if you drink or eat highly acidic foods, such as fruits or fruit juices, the tooth enamel softens slightly and, if you brush your teeth immediately afterward, can be damaged over time. It takes about 45 minutes for the saliva in your mouth to neutralize these acids—after that, you can brush your teeth again without any concerns. Otherwise, the rule of thumb is: wait half an hour after every meal before brushing your teeth.

While this rule also applies to patients wearing braces or aligners, we still recommend brushing immediately after meals if you’re unsure.

So what determines whether you should brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

These three factors are crucial:

– Do you wear braces (fixed braces or aligners)?

– Do people drink fruit juice or eat fruit for breakfast?

– Do you have time to brush your teeth 30 minutes after breakfast?

In any case, here’s the rule: If you brush your teeth before breakfast, you should floss or use interdental brushes afterward—or at least rinse your mouth thoroughly—otherwise, unsightly food particles will remain between your teeth and can damage them. This is particularly important for people who wear braces. As mentioned earlier, we therefore recommend that they brush their teeth after eating.

We’ll make it easy for you to decide using a decision tree:

Should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

Conclusion: Should you brush your teeth before or after breakfast?

In summary, whether it’s better to brush your teeth before or after breakfast depends largely on your eating habits. Hopefully, Prof. Jonke’s decision tree will make the issue a little easier to understand. So the next time you find yourself in a heated debate, you can simply refer to our article. 😉