Morning vs Night Dental Care
We all know it’s important for our oral health to brush our teeth when we wake up and before we go to bed, but how exactly does this help prevent gum disease and tooth decay?
During the day
We all eat several times throughout the day. Every time we eat bits of food gets stuck on and in between our teeth and our mouths. As bacteria breaks down this remaining food our mouth becomes acidic. The acidity doesn’t last for ever, and normally by an hour or two after eating your mouth has returned to its normal pH thanks to saliva production. By the end of the day however your teeth have faced enamel wearing acid and bacteria several times, and there will still be food particles present in your mouth for hungry bacteria to feed off. This leaves our teeth vulnerable to decay and cavities, along with enamel erosion and gum disease. You might notice that come the evening your teeth feel a bit fuzzy – that’s a layer of bacteria called plaque that has grown on your teeth throughout the day.
During the night
As we sleep a lot of our bodily functions slow down. Crucially, your mouth will produce less saliva as you rest. Saliva production is essential to a healthy mouth. Saliva helps reduce acidity and delivers minerals to your tooth enamel. The stronger your enamel is, the better protection it can offer your teeth from decay. Enamel is vulnerable to bacteria and acidity but is routinely fortified by your saliva. During the night when less saliva is made bacteria can multiply for several hours uninhibited while your teeth are most vulnerable.
Morning dental care
A lot of us wake up in the morning with bad breath. It’s a natural phenomenon caused by bacteria that have been growing in your mouth overnight. Brushing your teeth in the morning is the best way to fight your bad breath. It is important to brush for at least 2 minutes, making sure to get every reachable tooth surface as well as your tongue and cheeks to remove as much bacteria as possible. Brushing your teeth in the morning also puts down a layer of fluoride on your teeth. Fluoride helps strengthen your enamel, affording you better protection from the foods and drinks you will consume throughout the day. You may also choose to use a mouth wash to help kill bacteria and leave behind a potent minty freshness. Just make sure to use mouth wash before you brush in order to keep the fluoride layer intact for as long as possible. On that note, it is important to not eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes after brushing, the longer you can wait the better!
Evening dental care
Before you go to bed it is important to spend some time taking care of your pearly whites. Remember, your teeth are most vulnerable during sleep, so your evening dental care routine is the best way to prevent decay, cavities, and gum disease. Wait until after you have finished eating for the day as eating after brushing before bed will reduce its effectiveness. It is better to floss in the evening rather than the morning in order to flush out any bacteria and food that has sneaked under the gum-line throughout the day. Make sure to curve the floss around the tooth and gently scrape it up and down the tooth, dipping below the gums. Give your teeth and tongue a good brushing to clear out any remaining bacteria or food, and to add another coat of protective fluoride to your enamel. After brushing, spit out the toothpaste but don’t rinse your mouth with water.
