For decay, you need plaque, food and time. Remove the plaque and you don’t get decay even with food. Brush after eating and you help remove plaque and food, but if it was acidic, you need to wait 30+ minutes or you’ll do more harm than good.

So either can work. Personally, I brush before breakfast as I want my mouth fresh and clean to enjoy my food.

Brushing is more linked with reducing gum disease, than tooth decay. Tooth decay is more linked with sugar frequency intake, cutting down sugar events prevents decay more than choosing the optimum time to brush.

[–] LOLseas@lemmy.zip 4 points 18 hours ago

So the most accepted answer is dependent on how acidic your breakfast is. Fruits, juice, coffee? You'll want to brush your teeth +/- 20 minutes prior.

[–] twinnie@feddit.uk 2 points 16 hours ago

Depends on how long I have. If it’s a workday and I don’t have much time then I brush my teeth first, if it’s the weekend and I’m not in a rush I eat breakfast first. I just do this on some idea that sugar (such as in milk) makes your teeth a little softer temporarily and you shouldn’t brush when they’re like that. That from what they say about brushing your teeth after coke but it stuck in my head.

[–] ThoGot@feddit.org 5 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Brush teeth first

[–] bobtimus_prime@feddit.org 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

From my understanding, that is correct. The bacteria in your mouth will turn parts of the food in acids, weakening the protective layers of the tooth. Thus, brushing your teeth directly after eating will be more abrasive. I don't remember the time, but it was advised to wait some time, so the saliva can neutralize and remineralize the teeth.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 4 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I've seen people raising the opposite argument: brush it ASAP so the bacteria don't have time to acidify your mouth. Now I'm really unsure which is the right approach.

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago

Clearly the correct answer is to brush your teeth while you're eating breakfast.

Chew, swallow, brush. Chew, swallow, brush.

[–] freeman@feddit.org 4 points 19 hours ago

Eat breakfast, wait an hour, brush teeth (at work)

[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Brushing your teeth before you eat is like wiping your butt before you poop.

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 0 points 10 hours ago

Not brushing first is like not washing your hands before eating finger foods.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 1 points 17 hours ago

Did you watch some Materwelonz recently?