Brushing your teeth is vital to remove unwanted food particles and plaque buildup. To keep your teeth in excellent condition, you should brush them at least twice a day. One common question that a lot of people have is if they should brush their teeth before or after breakfast.

Why Should You Brush Before Breakfast?

When you’re asleep, plaque-causing bacteria are free to multiply inside your mouth. This is the reason that you might have morning breath or that mossy taste in your mouth. You should wash that bacteria away with your fluoride toothpaste before breakfast.

When you apply fluoride toothpaste, it works to coat the existing enamel on your teeth. This creates a barrier to protect your teeth from foods and drinks that have high amounts of acid. Also, when you brush your teeth in the morning, it helps to jumpstart your saliva production. This helps it become more effective throughout the day. The more productive your saliva is, the faster you’re going to be able to break down foods. Plus, it helps to kill off the harmful bacteria that gets in your mouth.

What Breakfast Foods and Drinks You Should Avoid?

Unfortunately, many breakfast foods can damage your enamel. This is due to their high content of acid. Foods like orange juice, citrus, and dried fruit can ruin your enamel due to their high acid content. Plus, bread and pastries can also weaken your tooth enamel. You should eat food that doesn’t have a high acid content by nature. Foods with little to no acid are going to be better for your tooth enamel.

How to Best Brush Your Teeth in the Morning

When it comes to brushing your teeth in the morning, you want to do so in an effective manner. Wet the head of your brush and apply a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. You want to use the amount to be the size of a pea. Make sure that you’re brushing your teeth at an angle so that you can get to all those hard-to-reach spots.

You should invest in brushing each section of your mouth for about two minutes. Section your mouth off by the front teeth, your side teeth, and the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Make sure that you end with brushing all the bacterial residue off of your tongue. Always spit out any leftover toothpaste and never swallow it. You can always follow up by using a helpful mouthwash. This can help you to protect your teeth and enhance the smell of your breath.

Call Us Today

If you have more questions about how to take care of your teeth, then it’s time to contact us. Let our experienced dentist assist you with all your dental health needs. Be sure to get your dental cleanings twice a year!

 

References

The Toothbrush: One of the most basic, efficient tools of modern society! But as technology continues to progress, patients ask which is best—a manual toothbrush or an electric one?

First of all, it’s important to note that most people can get an effective cleaning using either option. Nevertheless, the Cochrane study evaluating hundreds of electric toothbrushes (ETB) revealed that the ETB’s are more efficient at cleaning teeth, and thus, more effective for the vast majority of people who brush. However, we’ve listed a few features of each below:

Some Perks From The Classic:

A manual toothbrush has been doing a great job for years and will continue to do so.

Advantages Of An Electric Toothbrush:

How Electric Toothbrushes Are Made And How They Work

Take a break from whatever you’re stressing about today and learn something fun. Use the info next time you’re at a party to impress your friends:

5 Things MORE Important Than The Type Of Brush:

More important than what kind of toothbrush you have is how you use it! Make sure you’re covering these five factors:

  1. Use soft bristles;
  2. Get a new brush (or brush head) every 4 months or so;
  3. Brush for two minutes a day;
  4. Don’t brush TOO hard; it can hurt your gums;
  5. Be thorough, and get all the corners.

If you have any questions, or you’re wondering what kind of toothbrush is best for you, do not hesitate to contact us. We consider ourselves pretty dialed-in on your dental hygiene, and we’d love to discuss how you can get the very best cleaning at home each day.

Thanks for reading, and for being a valued part of our practice family!

What if your toothbrush could be a force for good in the world? Pretty high expectations, right? But that’s exactly what the developers of Bogobrush are trying to do.

It’s Like The Tom’s Shoes Concept

The makers of the Bogobrush re-imagined the toothbrush while adding the philanthropic component. To be clear, we’re not affiliated with Bogobrush. We just like the concept of helping others.

  1. BOGO stands for Buy One, Give One. For each brush you buy, another is given to someone in need! Millions of people lack access to dental care. This project takes a small step toward remedying that problem.
  2. Environmentally friendly, without compromising dental health. The biodegradable design means less plastic toothbrushes in landfills.
  3. Now, brushing is more than just a chore… It’s keeping you and someone else healthy!

Founded By A Brother/Sister Team

Want To Learn More?

The makers of Bogobrush are working hard to launch the product. You can learn more about Bogobrush from their website. There is also an additional video about their progress that you can watch. And, we’re interested in your opinions about this idea.

 

Thanks for being our valued patient.

Brushing: It’s the foundation for keeping your mouth clean and healthy. In fact, it’s so basic that most people don’t think about it very much… They just do it.

If you’re brushing twice a day that’s wonderful! It makes our job (helping keep your smile beautiful and healthy) a lot easier! But all of us can be more effective with our brushing. Ask yourself these three questions:

  1. Are you using the proper brush?
    Your toothbrush should be small enough to reach every small corner inside your mouth, and it should have soft bristles.
  2. Are you using the right techniques?
    Brush with the bristles against your teeth and gum line at a 45 degree angle. Brush in small, circular strokes, imagining plaque being swept away from the gum line.  Never brush too hard. Think about holding your toothbrush like a paintbrush! When it comes to brushing, elbow grease won’t get you anywhere—it just flattens the bristles against your teeth where they can’t do any good. And, it can wear down your enamel more quickly.
  3. Are you thorough?
    It takes two full minutes to do a thorough brushing job… 30 seconds per quadrant. And, don’t forget these frequently ignored spots:

    • inner side of your front teeth
    • your tongue
    • inner side of back molars, next to your tongue

The American Dental Hygienists’ Association has produced a quick-reference guide.

Ready To Take It To The Next Level?

If you feel like you have the basics covered, try these tips:

Thanks for reading, and happy brushing!

WE USE IT DAILY TO CLEAN OUR TEETH and freshen our breath, but did you know there are many other everyday uses for toothpaste? Here are a few:

Cleaning, Polishing, And Removing Stains

A little toothpaste can help remove stains from clothes and carpet, crayon from walls, scuffs from shoes, and soap scum from the shower. You can polish chrome faucet fixtures, jewelry, and even your finger and toenails!

Deodorizing

Have a plastic bottle that smells like sour milk? Are your hands smelly after handling onions or fish? Scrubbing with toothpaste can help get rid of unpleasant smells.

Restoring Car Headlights

Itch And Pain Relief

Want to soothe the pain or itching caused by a bug bite or simple burn? It has also been said that toothpaste can help reduce the size and discomfort of cold sores and zits.

Defogging Mirrors And Goggles

Rubbing a little toothpaste on a mirror, glasses or goggles and then rinsing the surface clean can help prevent fogging. Eureka!

Filling Nail Holes In Walls

Don’t have drywall paste on hand or time to run to the hardware store? No problem. Fill in the holes with toothpaste and let it dry. You can even paint over it.

A Little Toothpaste History

Before You Go Crazy With The Toothpaste…

There are LOTS of accounts out there of people using toothpaste for the purposes above AND others. But, we haven’t tried them all ourselves! So here’s our little “disclaimer”!

If you’re going to try any of these ideas use white, non-gel toothpaste AND be sure to do your own research first! Just Google your idea before you start—there are tons of step-by-step instructions and testimonials out there!

Do you have another use for toothpaste that you’ve tried? Share it with us below!

We Hope This Was Fun For You (And Informative). Thanks For Being Our Awesome Patients!

WHERE WOULD WE BE without our toothbrushes?! Today personal dental hygiene is easy with convenient tools like toothbrushes and floss. But have you ever wondered what people did before modern toothbrushes?

Twigs & Branches

The earliest toothbrushes were actually “chewing sticks”. That may sound rudimentary, but they were surprisingly effective. In ancient Babylon people chewed on twigs until they became shredded and fibrous. That created a “brush” that they’d use to clean their teeth. Depending on the plant used, additional antiseptic properties or naturally occurring fluoride may have even been found in those twigs.

Many cultures still use Miswak chewing sticks (made from a twig of the Salvadora persica tree) for oral hygiene.

Chinese Boar Bristle Brushes

Around the 15th century the Chinese invented one of the earliest toothbrushes, made from boar bristles pasted onto handles of bamboo or bone. These brushes worked just like modern toothbrushes do, although they were a little more harsh on one’s teeth (and a little less sanitary).

European Sponges & Cloths

Most Medieval Europeans didn’t bother with oral hygiene. However, the meticulous few would clean their teeth using a sponge or cloth dipped into a solution made of oils and salts. It was probably better than nothing!

Toothbrushes Today

Modern materials like nylon bristles and plastic handles have made toothbrushes inexpensive and accessible to nearly everyone. And now, we see all kinds of toothbrushes, from smart ones that tell you where to brush, to singing ones that make oral hygiene fun for kids.

Does The Brand Of Your Toothbrush Matter?

Many patients ask what kind of toothbrush is best. Typically it’s best to use one with soft bristles, but the kind of toothbrush you use doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you use it for two minutes, twice a day.

So how do YOU feel about your toothbrush? If your own modern toothbrush wasn’t around, which of these ancient methods would you try?

Let us know in the comments section below. And remember, if you ever have any questions about your oral health, ask us!

Thanks For Being Our Valued Patient!

DO YOU EXPERIENCE sudden, sharp pain sometimes when you drink a glass of ice water, eat ice cream, or sip hot coffee? You’re not alone. One in eight adults experiences tooth sensitivity—the kind of sensitivity that isn’t due to a problem such as a cavity. So what’s causing it? Surprisingly, one of the most common causes of tooth sensitivity is brushing with too much force.

How Could Brushing Hurt?

Over brushing is problematic because it wears down the protective layers of your tooth enamel. It can also push back your gums, exposing the dentin layer under the enamel even more. This dentin layer has microscopic tubes or canals that lead to your tooth’s nerves. If these tubes are exposed to hot, cold, or even acidic foods it can lead to discomfort and tooth sensitivity.

Tips For Better Brushing:

Put In The Time

When it comes to cleaning teeth, elbow grease doesn’t do the trick. Consider this mantra: brush smarter, not harder. When regularly brushing, the plaque you’re trying to get rid of is fairly soft and can easily be brushed away with a soft brush.

During the two minutes you’re brushing it’s good to be thorough, but there’s no need to scrub the same areas over and over again.

Questions?

Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity? Over brushing isn’t the only possible cause. You may want to request an appointment so we can talk about your symptoms and determine the reason for your pain.

You can also leave a question below, or you can ask a private question on our Facebook page.

Thanks for being a valued patient in our practice!

AFTER FINISHING LUNCH AT WORK, DO YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH? A survey reveals that despite knowing that a healthy, attractive smile affects both personal wellness and professional image, very few people are brushing at the office.

The survey, carried out by The Academy of General Dentistry and Oral-B Laboratories, polled more than 1,000 full-time employees about their oral care habits and the importance of a healthy smile at work. Their findings were very interesting.

The Importance Of A Healthy Smile At Work

Office Eating And Brushing Stats

Changing When You Brush

The sugars and starches in the food you eat can cause an “acid attack” on tooth enamel. Even after the visible evidence of food disappears, plaque bacteria continues to grow. If you don’t brush, those workday meals, snacks, and beverages stay on your teeth and can increase the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease. So brush! Let’s adjust the when of brushing just a bit, to your advantage: brush your teeth after breakfast, after meals at work, and before you go to bed.

Helpful Tips For Brushing At Work

Suggestions?

If you brush your teeth regularly at work, do you have any suggestions to help the rest of us, who may not be as valiant? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

Thank You For Being A Part Of Our Practice.