# Best Time to Brush? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-time-to-brush/253004 "2004-07-01T04:14:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-time-to-brush/253004/1 "2004-07-01T04:14:46Z")
I know that I should be brushing three times (or more according to some of my wacky friends) per day, but I’m lazy and only do it twice, morning and night. Would it make more sense to do it after lunch rather than in the morning? Of course, I think my coworkers appreciate the minty fresh breath…But from a cleanliness standpoint? ---
**Author:** ![Thaumaturge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Thaumaturge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaumaturge)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-time-to-brush/253004/2 "2004-07-01T04:18:37Z")
After each meal is best… if you do it twice, once after breakfast and once before bed works good. Which is how I do it most of the time, the rest of the time I throw in an extra after lunch. Do you eat breakfast? ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-time-to-brush/253004/3 "2004-07-03T20:27:01Z")
> [@Thaumaturge](#): > > After each meal is best… if you do it twice, once after breakfast and once before bed works good. Which is how I do it most of the time, the rest of the time I throw in an extra after lunch. > > Do you eat breakfast? Hmm. This didn’t come up on my confirmation list… I generally take my vitamins then, an hour+ later eat breakfast. I should probably be brushing more now, although I’ve cut out a lot of the crap that I used to eat that caused problems. Although, not brushing my teeth when I’ve just gotten out of the shower (i.e. waiting until after breakfast) throws off the whole day. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-time-to-brush/253004/4 "2004-07-03T20:40:53Z")
Don’t forget to floss! ---
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-time-to-brush/253004/5 "2004-07-03T23:00:48Z")
Related: I read in a book that if the nighttime brushing is more important than the morning brushing (I’m assuming pre-breakfast). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@Little\_Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Cloud)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-time-to-brush/253004/6 "2004-07-04T05:21:54Z")
My dentist has informed me several times that brushing before bed is critical. Production of saliva is drastically decreased during sleep causing whatever plaque has accumulated to harden into tartar. This forms an excellent matrix for the bacteria responsible for cavities. Unfortunately, I like to read (and snack) in bed and often drift off to sleep. Then I am too reluctant to chance waking fully by getting up to brush my teeth. My dental bills are beyond belief. ☹