“After brushing, it is safe to drink water and coffee immediately since the minerals in toothpaste have strengthened, remineralized, and rid the teeth surfaces of bacteria build up,” Dr. Huang shares. “However, for the best taste, you may want to wait 10 minutes to avoid toothpaste-flavored coffee or water.”
Coffee is acidic, which can lead to the erosion of tooth enamel. Coffee also is known to stain teeth. We don't want either of these things to happen, but dental experts agree that brushing BEFORE you drink coffee is better than after.
Follow the general thirty-minute rule before sipping milk after brushing your teeth! Brushing your teeth is great in the long run, but it can temporarily weaken your enamel. Follow the general rule of waiting thirty minutes after brushing to eat or drink.
'Drinking water before brushing teeth helps with bad breath'
Drinking water first thing in the morning helps to flush out these bacteria and get rid of the dry sensation simultaneously. When a person is asleep, their saliva production gets lower and it allows the bacteria to multiply and result in bad morning breath.
While you sleep, the bacteria in your mouth tend to multiply. That is why you may sometimes wake up with “morning breath” or a mossy taste in your mouth. Brushing first thing in the morning fights those bacteria and coats your enamel with a protective barrier that will help protect against acids in your morning meal.
Brushing in the morning cleans off the bacteria that may have settled overnight, while incorporating teeth brushing into your nightly routine removes food particles and acid that your teeth may have encountered during the day.
You can brush your teeth three times a day. In fact, this is the ideal balance for many people because it allows for oral cleansing after every meal.
In short, the best times of day to brush your teeth are in the morning and in the evening. Some wonder if after eating breakfast is the best time to brush their teeth, but it's actually best to brush your teeth right when you wake up in the morning.
When this happens, the harsh ingredients in your toothpaste cause the cells lining the insides of your cheeks to slough off, and as they collect in your mouth, this creates the white, slimy, stringy stuff.
You might have seen a flood of Twitter chatter sparked by a tweet reading, “Do ya'll wet the toothbrush first, or put toothpaste on first?” The response online was mixed, but our answer is pretty simple: Wetting your toothbrush is more a matter of preference and doesn't significantly change the success of brushing.
There are a number of ways that you can whiten your teeth if they are or have already yellowed; these are a mix of over-the-counter toothpastes, home whitening products or, in some cases, mechanical plaque removal by a dentist or hygienist.
But you could be damaging the enamel on your teeth, especially if what you are consuming is acidic, like coffee. Acid will weaken your enamel, which can increase your chances of cavities or tooth decay, so you should wait 30-60 minutes before brushing your teeth after eating or drinking.
Wait 30 minutes before brushing: Drinks that are high in acid (wine, lemonade, coffee, soda) can soften our enamel. If you brush your teeth immediately after drinking coffee, it can further damage the enamel and the dentin that lies underneath it (the layer of tissue that lives under the enamel).
Even with daily brushing, certain foods and drinks can cause stained teeth. For example, frequently drinking coffee, tea and wine can all lead to yellow teeth. In addition, even regular brushing cannot always combat yellow teeth caused by smoking cigarettes.
Gum recession –If you notice that your gums look shorter or your teeth look longer than before, this may be a sign that you're overbrushing. Sensitive teeth – Discomfort or sensitivity when consumingcold or hot food or beverages may mean that you've been brushing your teeth too roughly.
The American Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day. People sometimes brush after every meal, or brush midday to freshen up. Although this is not always a bad thing, when you start brushing too much or for too long, you can ultimately damage your teeth.
A white tongue can look alarming, but it's usually just a sign of trapped bacteria, debris (like food and sugar) or dead cells on your tongue. White tongue sometimes happens alongside a different tongue problem called black hairy tongue.
If you do not brush your tongue, you are skipping a large area where many bacteria gather in colonies, and eventually cause trouble in your mouth. In addition to causing oral health problems, if you do not brush your tongue, you may start suffering from halitosis (bad breath).
Mouthwash can enhance your oral care routine, but remember: It's not a substitute for regular brushing and flossing. Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes to remove food particles and plaque from your teeth, and floss once a day to clean between your teeth and along your gumline.
Gently brushing your gums while you brush your teeth will go a long way towards promoting overall gum health – provided that you brush lightly. The benefits of brushing your gums include the reduction and removal of plaque and food debris from the gumline.
Look for healthy options
Foods such as cheese, celery, and yogurt are better choices. Cheese has calcium that is good for healthy bone density and can help balance oral pH. Celery is full of water, which will help wash your teeth as you chew, and yogurt has calcium and other probiotics that protect against cavities.