Waking up at 7am every day is 'key' for healthy teeth dentist says

A dental expert has shared the 'perfect' time to get out of bed and brush your teeth

Most people brush their teeth at the same time every day - whenever they get up and before they go to bed. It's what most people are taught from a young age, to make sure our teeth are healthy for as long as possible.

However, there's actually a 'perfect time' we should all be aiming for to give our teeth the best chance of lasting for years without dental issues. It's bad news for those who like a lie-in though as it requires getting up fairly early in the morning.

Dental expert Dr Zaeem, from Ordo, shares when you should be getting into the bathroom each morning. And, what you should do whilst there for those all important two minutes.

While it might seem like one of the most mundane things to do - that doesn't stop oral hygiene being among the most important things to do daily. Failing to brush can lead to serious health problems like tooth decay and might cause you to lose your teeth altogether.

And, the time of day you reach for your toothbrush actually has more of an impact on this than you'd think. Dr Zaeem said: "Brushing your teeth at 7:15am is the perfect time to give your teeth a clean after waking up in the morning.

"While you sleep, plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth multiply and that’s why you may wake up with a fluffy taste in the mouth and ‘morning breath’. This is why it’s not always wise to indulge in a lie in, as the longer you sleep in, the more time the bacteria has to multiply. Washing bacteria away early in the morning with fluoride toothpaste rids the teeth of plaque and bacteria."

By setting your alarm a little earlier and getting this process over and done with, your teeth will be coated with a protective barrier against acid in your food, setting you up for a day of healthy teeth. The dental professional added that brushing before you have any breakfast is also a good idea.

They said: "Another benefit of brushing first thing in the morning, before breakfast, is that you also jump-start your saliva production. Your saliva helps your food break down and naturally kills harmful bacteria in your mouth helping to create a healthy smile for the day ahead.

While it might be controversial for some, you should avoid brushing your teeth after breakfast. Brushing immediately after eating breakfast may actually cover the teeth with remnants of acidic food, which weakens the enamel even further from the overnight bacteria that has built up in your mouth.

Dr Zaeem warned that breakfast staples are "some of the worst foods for the tooth enamel". This includes firm favourites like orange juice and cereals.

When it comes to your second brush of the day, Dr Zaeem recommends it being the very last thing you do - and they stressed that can mean "literally minutes before you get into bed". They added: "Except for water, it’s really important that you don’t eat or drink anything between your evening brush and sleep, so it makes sense to leave this until right before getting into bed."