It never fails to amaze me how passionately people feel about the pre-breakfast versus post-breakfast toothbrushing. Sir Monkeypants and I are both pre-breakfast brushers and I didn’t realise when we first met how important that was, but it’s clear to me now that if we differed on this issue we would have no chance at a happy marriage.
I can’t count the number of people who are post-breakfast brushers who have tried to convince me that their way is “right.” The latest was my chiropractor who, granted, can be a little preachy as it is, but man, she just wouldn’t let it go. I had the same debate with a few of my roommates in university — not that I felt that my way was superior in some way, I was just used to it and liked it and didn’t feel like changing. You’d think I was a smoker or something.
I’m sure there are an equal number of pre-breakfast brushers out there who are just as dedicated to their point of view. But either way, we’ll be raising The Captain and Gal Smiley as pre-breakfast brushers. Hopefully this doesn’t open us up to prosecution in the future.
TurtleHead 
Given far-reaching consequences of such a choice, I would suggest you do what my parents did.
Wake up your children very early on the morning of their 11th birthday. Make sure the heat in the house is low so that everyone’s mind is sharp and alert. Clear the kitchen table of all contents. Place a toothbrush with a generous amount of toothpaste at one end of the table. At the other end, place a bowl of cereal. Lead your child into the kitchen and ask them to stand facing the centre of the table. Channeling all the energy that this debate has infused you with throughout your lifetime, yell “CHOOSE!” in unison as loud as you possibly can. Then wait. It will probably be the most nerve-wracking couple of minutes you will ever experience as a parent.
(Tip: Don’t put milk in the cereal until after the choice is made. If they choose the cereal, you can always add milk. Otherwise, the cereal may get soggy if its consumption must wait for the brushing.)
is inconsistent. He sometimes brushes before, sometimes after. I, naturally, brush before breakfast.
I actually read once that the bacteria that builds up in your mouth over night from not swallowing as much as in the day shouldn’t be swallowed, that it’s bad for you.
And sometimes I brush while eating breakfast! It’s messy!
So do you brush again after breakfast? I’m guessing from what you’ve been saying that you don’t, and I can’t see how that’s good…
(And thus without saying it, I guess I’ve exposed my position on the subject)
Nope, I don’t brush after breakfast. My gums are receding, and I’m not to brush any more than twice a day. Really I should chew gum after meals, and it’s been suggested to me, but I’m not crazy about gum.
I read in a magazine once that adults *shouldn’t* brush more than twice a day as it is too hard on the gums. I also brush just once in the morning and once at night.
I find the post-breakfast brushers always find it “totally gross” that I could go out for the day without brushing. But I find it gross that someone could show up for breakfast with morning breath. I think it all depends on what you’re used to.
That’s weird that they’d find that “totally” gross. Do they brush every time they eat something? If so, they must be killing their gums.
I’ve had more than one dentist tell me that ideally one should brush after every meal, or just in general every time you eat, and that the notion that one shouldn’t brush too often is a myth. Of course I’m sure not all dentists will agree on this — maybe only 4 out of 5 .
If brushing is destroying your gums then you should improve your technique, not brush less.
As I’ve already been outed on the subject … I too am a pre-breakfast brusher. And I don’t bother to brush again after because I’m just going to go to work and have coffee. It’s true that if I did my teeth would be clean and pristine for the 15 minute drive.
I’ve never met an inconsistent brusher on this subject!
I think that is really a space alien attempting to pass himself/herself/itself off as human. He/She/It was obviously doing a pretty good job but .. the jig is up man/woman/thing!
Ah, that’s a good point to make. A lot of people do have very poor brushing technique. I’ve worked hard to improve mine, to avoid another icky gum grafting surgery. It ain’t easy changing a habit like that after 30 years!
Yes, I’ve often thought is from another planet. He’s just too darn good to be true.
Yeah, so obviously there’s no point. For me, I always have my caffeine at home before I leave, so brushing after that keeps me good for a few hours.
I think that no matter what you do though, dental hygiene is really a pain!
You’re only responsible for brushing your own teeth. Try chasing a two year old around the house with a toothbrush! Then you can start complaining about dental hygiene being annoying.
Hmmm…. no two-year-olds here, but I but there’s no one there with braces. That’s a dental hygiene nightmare on its own level…
Anyway, what I really meant was that just taking care of your own (normal) teeth is a pain. Ideally one should brush after every meal, floss once a day… it’s all such a hassle. Surely modern technology can come up with a more durable solution?