This is the best time to brush your teeth

A study found that advice on when is best to brush your teeth is inconsistent 

Mollie Goodfellow
Wednesday 27 January 2016 17:48 GMT
Comments
It can be confusing to know what the best practice for tooth brushing is
It can be confusing to know what the best practice for tooth brushing is (Corbis)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The standard advice from dentists has long been to brush our teeth twice a day, regularly floss and use mouthwash.

Its part of the morning and evening routine, and some people even brush their teeth after every meal. But when is the best time to brush your teeth?

According to a study undertaken by researchers at the University College London, due to the absence of good research, advice on the best way to brush teeth is confusing and inconsistent.

Some dentists recommend you wait a certain amount of time after eating certain foods or drinking certain drinks, such as fizzy drinks or wine, so as not to damage the tooth enamel.

Why do we yawn? Dr. Nick explains all...

But Dr Richard Marques, one of the UK’s leading dentists, told the Independent what he recommends when it comes to brushing teeth.

“It is best to brush your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and evening," he said.

"You should wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush the teeth, otherwise the acid can damage the tooth surface. Brushing before bed is really important, as otherwise the food can sit against the surface of the teeth and cause them to decay overnight."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in