Dr Michael Mosley has weighed in on the best time of day to brush your teeth, and the suggested time might surprise you.

Typically, we brush our teeth after breakfast as brushing before can ruin the taste of that all-important first meal of the day.

Yet now, it seems we've been doing it the wrong way the entire time.

Dr Mosley first posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "Does anyone brush their teeth BEFORE breakfast? That’s the advice from the American Dental Association. If you don’t do it before, should wait at least 30 mins after in case acid from the meal weakens the enamel and brushing damage."

Location Location Location presenter Kirstie Allsopp replied: "Yes, I was taught this years ago."

The health guru then responded to Allsopp: "Doesn’t it make breakfast taste funny? I’m currently trying to wait 30 minutes after breakfast before brushing but that just feels unnatural; like waiting 30 minutes after going to the loo to wash your hands.

"Oddly, the only study I could find suggested that brushing your teeth after breakfast removes more plaque than doing so before. The reason dentists suggest doing it before is to prevent damaging the enamel if you brush enthusiastically straight after an acidic meal."

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According to Healthline, there are certain precautions you should consider if you brush your teeth after breakfast.

Brushing immediately after eating breakfast may actually cover your teeth with remnants of acidic food, which weakens your enamel. Breakfast staples are some of the worst foods for your tooth enamel, including:

  • orange juice
  • citrus fruit
  • dried fruit
  • bread
  • pastries

So, brushing may be particularly bad for your teeth right after breakfast.

Waiting 30 minutes to an hour after eating to brush your teeth is the best way to ensure that you’re protecting your teeth and not tampering with your enamel.

The American Dental Association recommends you wait 60 minutes after eating before you brush, especially after eating acidic foods.

Drink water or chew sugar-free gum after eating to clean your teeth before you brush.