Morning vs night brushing: Which one is more important for kids?

Brushing teeth is a foundational part of a child’s daily routine, yet many parents still wonder whether brushing in the morning or at night matters more. While both play an important role in maintaining oral health, they serve different purposes.Morning brushing gets rid of bacteria in the mouth, which accumulates during the night. Here is where children’s brushing in the morning is beneficial, as brushing gets rid of bacteria in the mouth, making children have fresh breath. Moreover, children’s teeth are protected with a shield of fluoride in readiness for the breakfast they consume, most of which contains sugar and other acidic components.On the other hand, night brushing is regarded as the most important brushing activity of the day.

Food particles, plaques, and bacteria accumulate in large quantities in a child’s teeth in a day. Of course, if these are not cleaned during daytime, they will remain in the teeth for a good number of hours when a child sleeps. Because the amount of saliva in a child’s mouth during night hours is minimal, a child’s teeth will have minimal protection against decay when bacteria attack them.As far as which one is especially important when it comes to which one is considered more important, most dentists will most likely state that night brushing is most important in regards to tooth decay.

Otherwise, without brushing in the morning, for instance, kids will have a bit of bad breath and more plaque in their teeth during the day; without night brushing, bacteria will have a chance to attack teeth for a whole lot longer.

The parents are recommended in general to make brushing a predictable activity by adjusting it to a daily routine. The activity can be linked to morning and afternoon routines to get ready for school and evening routines before retiring to bed.

For younger children, correct guidance from parents is essential for ensuring correct brushing practices and sufficient time allocated for brushing. Although both morning brushing and evening brushing are equally important for maintaining good oral health in children, if a need arises to give priority to either, brushing before retiring to bed appears to become an absolute necessity. Establishing a habit of brushing teeth twice a day in early life will help in maintaining the teeth safe, gums healthy, and aid in developing good dental habits in adulthood.