As we unwind from the day's hustle and bustle, there's one routine that is often overlooked but plays a crucial role in our oral health - brushing our teeth at night. While speaking to Dr Anirban Chatterjee, Periodontist and Implantologist at Dr. Malathi Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, we found out that brushing at night isn't just an arbitrary habit, but a scientifically backed practice that is essential for maintaining dental hygiene. Keep reading to know why brushing teeth at night is important.
Why is Nighttime Brushing important?
Would you be shocked to know that it is more crucial to brush our teeth at night than in the morning? Of course, we are not belittling the importance of brushing in the morning – that is an essential part of our daily hygiene routine, equivalent to having a bath before commencing our day. It’s also a habit that has been pre-programmed in our routines and we could never consider doing away with it. But here are three scientific reasons that should compel you to pre-program nighttime brushing in your daily routines too.
Saliva, our natural ally during the day slows down at night, night time brushing compensates for it
According to Dr Chatterjee, “Saliva helps to combat harmful bacteria and acid erosion that can lead to tooth decay. However, while our saliva works tirelessly to protect our oral health, its production significantly slows down during sleep. This reduction in saliva production can inadvertently facilitate the growth of harmful bacteria. Nighttime brushing compensates for the decrease in saliva production, since with brushing we are eliminating the bacteria in the mouth, keeping it clean and healthy through the night.
Night time brushing reduces the risk of cavities by 50%
Mere gargling after dinner is not sufficient to rinse out the mouth and remove leftover particles from dinner time. So, even if we resist a late-night treat, the fact that we go to sleep with an unclean mouth means we are inviting trouble.
“Leftover food provides an energy source for the bacteria residing in our mouths. These bacteria feed on the same and produce harmful acids as a byproduct. This acid then attacks the tooth enamel, the hard outer layer of our teeth, leading to its erosion. Over time, this erosion can progress into cavities - small holes in the teeth caused by decay. If left untreated, these cavities can grow larger and more painful, affecting deeper layers of the teeth and potentially leading to tooth loss,” explains Dr Chatterjee.
Brushing morning and night is shown to have reduced the risk of cavities by 50% vs an infrequent brusher. It effectively removes the day's accumulation of plaque and food particles, starving harmful bacteria overnight and reducing the production of damaging acids.
Also Read: Did You Know You Can Have Whiter Teeth Without Brushing Daily?
Night time brushing with a fluoride toothpaste allows remineralization to kick in
The benefits of fluoride in strengthening tooth enamel and preventing cavities is well-documented.
Dr Chatterjee explains, “Demineralization is the process in which the minerals of our teeth erode – this happens during the day, when we eat, and our mouths produce acids. Remineralization is the reverse and indicates a deposit of minerals back on our teeth – a process aided by night time brushing. Thus, after the wear and tear we have subjected our teeth to during the day, the best thing we can do is build up the healthy habit of night time brushing that allows them to recover as we sleep.”
Summing up, nighttime brushing is thus our first line of defence in maintaining our oral health. So, before you drift off to dreamland, remember to give your teeth the attention they deserve. Your smile will thank you for it!