Brushing Before or After Breakfast?

Generally, it is fine to brush your teeth before eating! It might make orange juice taste bad after but according to the EAPD, brushing before breakfast will “remove the build-up of plaque thereby minimizing the acidogenic response of the oral bacteria present of the foods eaten.” If you really cannot stand the the taste of toothpaste before eating, you can brush without toothpaste since water and bristles can still be quite effective. (x)

But what of brushing right after? Surprising to some, brushing too soon after a meal can lead to further tooth abrasion. The pH in your mouth has been dropped after a meal and needs time for the saliva to neutralize the mouth. The ideal intra-oral pH is supposedly 7, while foods can drop it below 5.5. The pH 5.5 is the point when teeth demineralize. How long must you wait for neutralization? This colgate article suggests 30 minutes while another colgate article suggests 60 minutes. The EAPD article stated 20-60 minutes, so I suppose 60 minutes is the safer wait, although 30 minutes is the more common wait.

In the meantime, the Online Wall Street Journal suggests you can rinse your mouth with water while you wait. Rinsing straight after consuming acidic drinks is still recommended. Chewing string cheese will also reduce the pH. (The wine and cheese combo makes more sense now, yeah?) Chewing sugar-free gum also wouldn’t hurt since the xylitol content will help you remineralize your teeth.

Possible Herbs for Toothache Relief

Quotes  Herbs of Choice by Varro E. Tyler, PhD
For Toothache Pain Relief

-Clove Oil: “Although clove oil is sufficiently irritating to preclude general or internal usage, it has long been employed as a local analgesic or obtundent for the relief of toothache.[In practice] a pledget of cotton is dipped in the undiluted oil and applied to the surface of the aching tooth or surrounding tissue, or if possible, inserted directly into the cavity where it will alleviate the pain for several hours.” (pg 129-130)

-Prickly Ash Bark: “[It is] used for toothache today in t he same manner as it was employed long ago by the American Indians. A small amount of the bark is chewed, and the moist mass is packed around the painful tooth as an emergency method of relieving pain. Adverse effects have not reported from short term use.” (pg 130)