How long to wait to eat after brushing teeth: the facts on brushing
Reading time: 4 mins
We learn from a very young age that it is key to our oral health to brush our teeth twice a day. What we don’t always learn is whether it matters when we brush. In other words, should you brush teeth before or after eating? Maybe you’ve asked yourself these questions before, especially since we know certain foods can ‘attack’ our teeth and weaken their protective layer. Brushing teeth immediately after eating can actually damage your teeth by removing the outer layer of the enamel. Therefore, in order to guarantee optimal health of our teeth it’s important not only to brush regularly, but to brush at the right time. Here we’ll explore these questions about brushing teeth after eating: So, let’s get started. Read on for all the facts about eating and brushing your teeth, like how long to wait to eat after brushing teeth. With this guide, we’ll help you make sense of all the FAQs and facts in order to protect your enamel and your teeth.
Should I brush my teeth after every meal?
As a general rule, you should eat before brushing teeth rather than after, especially if you plan to consume foods and drinks high in sugar. According to dentists, thorough oral hygiene – including brushing teeth after eating – is most important in the evening.¹ If you eat after brushing your teeth in the evening, bacteria will stay on your teeth during the night, which can lead to unwanted damage. Breakfast is the only exception when it comes to brushing after eating. There are a few reasons why this is the one meal where you should eat after brushing your teeth: To sum up the question of whether to brush teeth before or after eating: in the case of breakfast, the answer to ‘can you eat after brushing teeth?’ is yes! However, when it comes to other meals, you should brush after each one. But how long do you wait if you eat before brushing teeth? Read on to find out.
How long should I wait to start brushing my teeth after eating?
Brushing teeth immediately after eating isn’t a good idea, especially, as we mentioned before, if you have just consumed something acidic or sugary such as fruit, sweets or carbonated drinks. So, if you can’t brush immediately, when can you brush your teeth after eating? Dentists recommend waiting an hour before brushing your teeth after eating⁴ to allow your saliva enough time to form again, as this helps neutralise acids. Make sure you don’t forget that you need to brush your teeth after eating while you’re waiting, though, because:
Further tips for when you eat before brushing teeth
Now you know how long to wait – and the reasons why you should wait – before brushing your teeth after a meal. But there are a few key additional things we recommend you bear in mind when you eat before brushing your teeth: Tip: It’s not only bacteria but also improper oral care which can attack your enamel. Use a toothbrush that is gentle on your teeth and your gums, such as the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean. Together with the Philips Sonicare G3 Premium Gum Care brush head, it is the perfect solution for sensitive teeth and sore gums.
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Power Flosser 3000 Cordless water flosser with accessories
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ProtectiveClean 4300 Sonic electric toothbrush with pressure sensor
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G3 Premium Gum Care 4-pack interchangeable sonic toothbrush heads
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How long after brushing my teeth can I eat?
So, we’ve answered the question ‘can you eat after brushing teeth?’ as well as how long to wait if you eat before brushing teeth – but what about at breakfast time? At the start of this article, we showed you why you should brush before breakfast, but not how long to wait after brushing teeth to eat. If you find yourself asking, ‘How long after brushing my teeth can I eat?’ we’ve got you covered. If you’re brushing your teeth before eating, you don’t have to wait after you’ve brushed your teeth. As long as you and your mouth are generally healthy, you can eat right away. If a glass of orange juice is part of your breakfast routine, though, you may prefer not to brush your teeth straight before eating, as toothpaste can make orange juice taste bitter.⁷ Tip: If you brush before breakfast, you can chew sugar-free gum after. This will neutralise your mouth’s pH value and – in the short term – can help to protect your teeth against erosion.⁸ See, it’s actually quite simple. If you stick to the recommended timings, in addition to diligent oral hygiene, you’re creating the best conditions for healthy teeth. This guide has helped you to understand how long to wait to eat after brushing teeth, how long to wait to brush your teeth after eating, and all the facts in between. Now it’s time to go and enjoy your sparkling white Hollywood-worthy smile.
Sources:
¹ Kitsaras et al., Bedtime oral hygiene behaviours, dietary habits and children’s dental health, Children 8(5), 416.
² Zahara et al., Relationship between food habits and tooth erosion occurrence in Malaysian university students, Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 19(2), 56–66.
³ Cor van Loveren. Sugar restriction for caries prevention: amount and frequency. Which is more important? Caries Research 53(2), 168–175.
⁴ The best way to brush your teeth, BBC Future.
⁵ Gum disease, NHS inform.
⁶ Dehghan et al., Neutralizing salivary pH by mouthwashes after an acidic challenge, Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry 8(2).
⁷ Why does orange juice taste bad after tooth brushing?, BBC Science Focus.
⁸ Nayak et al., The effect of xylitol on dental caries and oral flora, Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry 6, 89–94.
