Brushing Habits

To brush or not to brush…that’s never the question I’m asked. The conundrum is usually what brush to use and when is the best time to brush. So here are my top tips
WHEN

• Brush twice a day morning and evening. Of the two the evening session is the most important as saliva levels drop at night so your teeth are less protected
• Never brush after eating anything acidic. The acid dissolves the enamel of your teeth and if you then brush, you actually brush away the enamel of your teeth!

So what is acidic? The usual culprits we know about such as citric fruits. However did you ever consider sugar acidic?

If you eat anything sugary the plaque bacteria in your mouth turns it to acid…so sugar and brushing straight after is a big NO. The ideal time is to brush your teeth BEFORE eating anything sweet, using a fluoride toothpaste to protect the enamel. Yuck I hear some people thinking, and I totally agree. Why?  you generally do not feel like eating anything sweet after brushing your teeth…that’s why the dentist in me rejoices

However being practical I advise whenever you eat anything sweet, pop some sugar free gum in straight after and chew for 10mins to help neutralise the effects

Next time I’ll be talking about the best brush to use so watch this space…