Nighttime Oral Health

​Most of us wake up in the morning and run to go brush our teeth.

​Many experience undesirable morning breath and for this reason, brushing their teeth is their very first morning task. However, when it comes to evening oral care, people’s routines differ. Some believe in brushing, flossing and/or rinsing right after dinner, while others wait until bed time. Which one is truly best?

​First, we ask ourselves, why is evening oral hygiene important in the first place? This is due to a lack of swallowing while we are asleep. For this reason, bacteria has a tendency to build up overnight, often causing “morning breath.”

Dental professionals recommend a 3 step routine to nighttime oral care.
This includes thoroughly brushing (teeth, tongue and gums), flossing and rinsing with mouthwash. This is so that all food remains and particles are removed, as well as plaque build up. People who are at higher risk for gum disease (such as gingivitis) should perform this routine after dinner, versus waiting several hours until bedtime.

Many people also experience mouth grinding at night.
Although there are many different theories as to why this occurs (psychological reasons, stress, etc.) there is also a way to prevent it. Mouth guards are commonly used and recommended by dental professionals, to reduce teeth grinding.
At the end of a long day, we all just want to relax and go to sleep. It is important that prior to do turning in for the night, we take care of our oral hygiene. This way, we can wake up with a smile!

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