When Should You Brush Your Teeth in the Morning

When should you brush your teeth in the morning? Know that this answer depends on multiple factors unique to each individual before you automatically answer based on your current brushing routine. Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day is vital for your overall dental health. But the “when” is more important than you may think. Is it better to brush before or after breakfast? Your diet and morning routine are key factors in what works best for you and your teeth.

The Best Times to Brush in the Morning Depends on Diet

Consider your daily morning routine. Do you eat breakfast? Drink coffee or tea? Are you a breakfast-on-the-go person, or do you enjoy sitting down to eat? How much time do you have from the moment you wake up to when you leave the house? Do you work from home or in an office?

When you should brush your teeth depends on what you eat. Breakfast staples like orange juice and coffee are notoriously acidic. Brushing your teeth right after eating or drinking acidic foods can cause damage to your tooth enamel. The American Dental Association recommends waiting at least 60 minutes after eating or drinking acidic foods or drinks before brushing your teeth. If you don’t have time to wait, it might be best to brush your teeth before eating in the morning and rely on sugar-free gum or sugar-free breath mints to freshen your breath and moisten your mouth.

For those who don’t drink coffee, tea or orange juice or eat other acidic foods, brushing after breakfast can help remove food particles and plaque buildup while freshening your breath.

If you work from home, you might find more flexibility in your morning routine to wait the suggested 60 minutes before brushing. But if you commute to work, consider brushing your teeth first thing in the morning and freshening your breath with mouthwash, sugar-free mints or gum. Some people brush their teeth before and after breakfast. While this could solve the problem of removing morning breath and food particles, you never want to overbrush your teeth, which could cause gum recession and tooth sensitivity. Try the Colgate MaxFresh Wisp Disposable Mini Toothbrush for a waterless, easy method for brushing.

hum by Colgate Rechargeable Smart Toothbrush for Adults

hum by Colgate Rechargeable Smart Toothbrush makes learning healthy brushing techniques a breeze. The Bluetooth connectivity tracks frequency, duration and coverage to teach you what spots you might be missing. This smart toothbrush guides you to brush better with its personalized app and comes with a built-in timer, so you know exactly how long to brush. You can even earn points towards rewards as you continue to elevate your oral care routine.

Morning Tooth Brushing Tips for Kids

Healthy habits are essential when teaching kids how to take care of themselves. Brushing their teeth morning and night is important to teach at a young age, but it’s not always easy. The American Dental Association recommends establishing and maintaining a routine and making the experience of brushing fun. Put on some fun music, hand out little rewards when they do a great job, and be an example by brushing your teeth alongside them. You’ll want to start brushing baby teeth from the first glimpse and keep it up as they get older. When they reach the age of five and older, they can start learning to hold their toothbrush independently.

hum by Colgate Smart Battery Powered Kids Toothbrush

hum by Colgate Smart Battery Powered Kids Toothbrush makes brushing a fun adventure. Augmented Reality shows your child exactly what areas to conquer and how long to brush. You can watch their progress and see what places they might be missing. The soft bristles will gently clean their mouths while battling plaque and bacteria. The hum for Kids toothbrush is available for ages five and older and comes in two fun colors. Make brushing their teeth the best part of the day.