Start and end your day with a clean smile

A regular daily oral health routine is key to keeping your smile clean — and reducing your risk for common problems such as bad breath, tooth discoloration, cavities, and gum disease.

Compare your current brushing and flossing schedule to these tips for morning and evening oral health care. You might find a few simple ways to improve your daily routine!   

How you start your day can really make a difference, and that’s especially true when it comes to your oral health. Cleaning your mouth the right way in the morning will protect your teeth and gums and leave you feeling fresh.

• Brush your teeth for two minutes, cleaning the entire surface of each tooth.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• The best time to brush in the morning may depend on the rest of your morning routine.
  • To avoid damaging your enamel, you’ll want to wait at least 30 minutes after you eat and 60 minutes after you drink acidic beverages such as coffee or orange juice.
  • If you don’t have time for that, you can brush first thing in the morning — but after you do, you’ll still want to wait at least 30 minutes for the fluoride to do its job before you eat breakfast or pour yourself a coffee.
• Do not brush your teeth before and after breakfast. This can lead to overbrushing, which when combined with using too much pressure, can wear down your tooth enamel, and cause gum recession and tooth sensitivity.

Mouthwash can help reduce plaque and bacteria, but when is the best time to use it? Experts recommend either using a fluoridated mouthwash or waiting at least 20 to 30 minutes after brushing your teeth. That way, the mouthwash doesn’t wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste.

Mouth bacteria don’t really bite — but if you don’t have an evening oral health routine, they can build up in your mouth and increase your risk for gingivitis and tooth decay. That’s why before bed is the most important time to brush! To care for your teeth at night:

• Brush your teeth once more, for another two minutes using the same soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth. We recommend flossing at night so you can remove any food stuck in your teeth from throughout the day.
• Try to avoid late-night snacks and drinking anything except water after you’re done brushing and flossing. If you do, you’ll lose the benefit of sleeping with a clean mouth!
• If you struggle with tooth grinding, it may help to wear a mouth guard or night guard while you sleep.

If you sometimes forget your nighttime oral health routine, try setting a reminder on your phone, or move your toothbrush to a spot that you will see as you go about your evening routine. A little nudge could help you maintain a clean smile!

Of course, taking great care of your teeth isn’t just important in the morning and evening. A few simple ways to care for your teeth during the day include chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva and freshen your breath, limiting sugary snacks and drinks, not drinking alcohol in excess, and not smoking or vaping at all.

It might be hard at first, but if you focus on cleaning your smile every morning and evening, your oral health to-dos will simply become another automatic daily habit.