Dentists Urge People to Avoid Brushing Directly After Eating

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 08 June 2012 11:31



Brushing too soon after eating can have devastating effects.

This message sometimes can be misunderstood. Dentists urge people to clean their teeth and brush twice each day to prevent dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. But research shows that brushing too soon after eating could do a great deal of harm when done repeatedly over time.

Dentists recommend waiting at least one hour to brush after eating.

Brushing less than 20 minutes after eating causes damage to the teeth, especially when the food or drink consumed was something sugary or acidic. The sugar and acid cause damage to the enamel, which exposes the dentin and leaves the teeth open to decay and sensitivity.

According to information from the Academy of General Dentistry, brushing too soon after eating may push acid from food or drinks deeper inside the teeth. It then reaches the enamel and dentin, and the dental problems ensue.

Teeth corrode faster if brushed within 30 minutes of drinking an acidic drink, according to research. Many trials indicated that when teeth are brushed anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes after consuming food or drinks that the results were similar to when brushing is done with more of a gap between eating/drinking and brushing.