Having good oral health habits is critical to a mouth without serious dental problems. Both our office and the American Dental Association (ADA) recommend you brush your teeth at least twice a day and preferably after every meal.
Flossing and keeping your regular bi-annual checkups is also very important to keep oral problems at bay.
As long as you are brushing twice a day, within a 24-hour period, it doesn’t matter the time you do it. Depending on your oral care habits at home, you may brush your teeth a short time after eating dinner or right before bed. It’s important not to wait until you are super tired, so you can get to the flossing.
It is Imperative You Brush Your Teeth Prior to Going to Bed Each Night
Whether you do it right after dinner (you should wait at least 30-minutes after a meal before brushing your teeth) or right before bed, it is vital you brush your teeth before sleeping.
Ideally, you should be getting around seven hours of sleep each night. During that time your mouth will produce an incredible number of bacteria that will fight to damage your teeth.
If you haven’t spent at least two-minutes brushing your teeth, and more time after that flossing, you will also have food residue and particles stuck between your teeth all night. This can create havoc inside the mouth.
When you eat, the bacteria that lives and thrives in your mouth will create acidity that is very damaging to the enamel in your teeth, which can create cavities and tooth decay. Plaque will also harden and calcify. When this happens, you cannot remove it by brushing and flossing alone.
Plaque can also lead to gum disease in the form of inflammation and infection. The body’s response will be to fight this infection, which can lead to the destruction of healthy tissue that holds your teeth in place. Never forget to brush before sleeping!
