It’s that time of year again! Back to School which means busy routines, and rushing out the door in the morning. It’s not easy getting everything done before everyone has to be out the door, but remember it’s just as important to brush your teeth in the morning as it is at night.
Brushing at night helps remove bacteria, plaque, sugars, and food debris from the day. This eliminates the risk of damage that can happen at night when you have a decrease in saliva production. A decrease in saliva makes you more prone to bacteria and plaque buildup, leading to an increased risk of decay.
Morning brushing is important to remove all the bacteria and plaque that has been forming while you were asleep. If you do not remove this bacteria and plaque, it will feast on everything you eat or drink during the day increasing your risk of decay. It’s also important to brush, floss and use rinse in the morning so when you walk into work you don’t knock everyone out with your morning breath. The same goes for children as they are more prone to decay due to their snacking tendencies.
I encourage everyone, young and old to brush their teeth as part of their initial morning routine. I find it helpful to brush your teeth before you do anything else, that way you don’t get distracted by other things and forget. For those who have children, it may be beneficial to keep spare toothbrushes in the kitchen for morning brushing. Have them brush right before or after they eat breakfast. As an adult if you struggle brushing in the morning before you have coffee, keep a toothbrush at work and brush when you get to work if you can’t squeeze it in before you leave the house. For those who drop their children off at daycare early, ask the daycare if you can bring a toothbrush in for your child to use after they eat breakfast.
I know we all have a lot on our plates in the morning, but morning brushing is just as important as your morning coffee. The health of your oral cavity plays a huge role in your overall health so take that 2 extra minutes and start the day fresh!