Why You Shouldn’t Eat Right After Brushing Your Teeth

Why You Shouldn’t Eat Right After Brushing Your Teeth

Dieting and oral health go hand in hand, and they both affect how you feel overall. Part of practicing good dental hygiene is waiting to eat after you brush your teeth. Even if you see your dentist regularly, eating after brushing your teeth can lead to plaque buildup and a loss of fluoride, but sometimes brushing right after you eat can be harmful too. Continue reading and find out why you shouldn’t eat right after brushing your teeth.
Plaque Buildup
The point of brushing your teeth is to get rid of the food remnants and bacteria that get left behind when you finish eating. If you eat right after you brush your teeth, you undo a lot of the work you did. It’s still better than not brushing your teeth at all, but it makes it easier for plaque to build back up on your enamel again. Drink water when you eat to help flush the residue out, and try to wait a while after brushing your teeth if you’re in the mood for a meal.
Observing the Right Order
The best way to handle your dental hygiene is to brush your teeth after you eat, but even this comes with some caveats. If you have spaghetti with tomato sauce for dinner, you might want to hold off on brushing your teeth for a little while because of the acidity in the sauce. Drink water to prevent too much contact between the sauce and your enamel, which could also leave you with a stained smile. Having tomato sauce right after brushing your teeth will almost certainly leave its mark.
If you want your teeth to be as strong and healthy as possible, call John Carson, DDS at (520) 514-7203. Our Tucson dentist’s office is one of the best, and you can check out our website to learn about our services.