How Long Should You Wait to Eat After Brushing Your Teeth?
Everybody already knows that brushing your teeth is the most effective way to protect them. That way, you can remove any food particles and plaque buildup, preventing infections and cavities.
However, brushing your teeth is not as straightforward as it seems, as there are a lot of questions that people have about it. For instance, there’s a lot of debate about whether you should eat or drink after brushing your teeth. Fortunately, this article’s here to take a deep dive and find out how long should you wait to eat after brushing your teeth.
When Should You Eat After Brushing Your Teeth?
When it comes to eating after brushing your teeth, most dentists recommend that you do it later, rather than sooner. Why? Because eating too soon will weaken and damage your tooth’s enamel, which may actually cause more problems later.
As a rule of thumb, even though some foods are not that damaging to your teeth, you shouldn’t eat anything for at least thirty minutes after brushing. Doing so ensures that your teeth are able to handle any food you throw at them without the fear of damaging the enamel.
Another thing you can do is to better plan your brushing. In fact, there is no reason to brush your teeth right before eating. Therefore, you could hold off on brushing in the morning until after eating breakfast.
And, if you prefer to eat breakfast and then shower, you can brush your teeth just before you step out the door. Just remember to avoid eating again until lunch; otherwise, you risk doing even more damage to your teeth.
Are Your Allowed to Drink Milk Right After Brushing Your Teeth?
Most people think of milk as a soothing drink that has a lot of beneficial properties. Not only can it improve sleep quality, but it can also calm your stomach and prevent digestive problems. However, what many people don’t know is that milk contains a lot of natural sugar, which makes it a bad post-brushing refreshment.
But why is sugar such a big deal? Simply put, every mouth is filled with germs, even after brushing. These germs can digest the sugar and transform it into acid, which they excrete right onto your teeth’s enamel, which promotes tooth decay.
So, just like eating, you should follow the thirty-minute rule before drinking even a cup of milk after you’ve just brushed your teeth.
What About Orange Juice?
Orange juice is a great source of vitamin C, making it a great choice for those looking to stay healthy. Yet, it also contains a lot of citric acid, which is known for being extremely hard on teeth.
Actually, citric acid is strong enough to damage your teeth’ enamel. Thus, drinking it right after brushing your teeth can have devastating effects on your already weakened enamel.
As a result, you should avoid drinking orange juice for at least thirty minutes after brushing. It’s important to mention that any citrus drink can damage your teeth, so the same rule applies to lemonade too.
