I think it is universally understood you should go to sleep with clean teeth but we don’t always follow the rules (even me). Whether it is finals week, and you are overwhelmed with studying, or you are just so exhausted from the day, we all are probably guilty of forgetting to brush or of having a snack before bed without brushing at least once in our lives. Whatever the excuse, dirtying up your teeth and then going to bed is not how you maintain a healthy mouth.
Your mouth is not a sterile environment (and it shouldn’t be). The purpose of brushing is to refresh and turnover microbes on the surfaces of your teeth to prevent stagnant masses of unhealthy plaque from developing as well as deliver fluoride via toothpaste to strengthen teeth. Even after brushing, there are still reduced numbers of bacteria on the surfaces of your teeth. From the minute you are done brushing, bacterial plaques begin to regrow and mature based on the available bacteria in the mouth and other factors. If you forget to brush your teeth altogether before bed, you’re allowing bacterial plaques to mature undisturbed overnight, which favors the colonization of acid-producing bacteria.
Now, if you decide to have a late-night snack without brushing, this will compound latent bacterial development. Any time there is available food, bacterial communities undergo growth spurts, and depending on the type of food or drink (specifically the sugar content) the growth of some bacteria is favored over others. If you eat (or drink with a bacterial food source i.e. sugar) after brushing your teeth at night, this will alter how bacterial biofilms reestablish themselves while you sleep – likely in an unhealthy way, with more acid-producing bacteria. Additionally, while you sleep salivary flow is reduced and any bacterial metabolites produced from the food you ate after brushing will not be cleared as effectively and will hang around to cause problems longer.
Nighttime is also an important period of rest and recovery for your teeth when they will remineralize from the wear and tear of the day. Disrupting this natural cycle with food is not good for your teeth. Furthermore, by not brushing (or rinsing with a fluoridated mouthwash) right before bed, fluoride will be unavailable to aid remineralization and you will limit the extent of potential recovery.
The bottom line is that forgetting to brush your teeth at night and especially eating before bed will reduce natural reparative mechanisms and lead to the development an unhealthier oral environment. Avoid it. That said, brushing your teeth before going to bed does not make your morning oral hygiene routine and less important. Brushing your teeth before breakfast in the morning is as important (and probably more important) to the health of your teeth.
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"We recently moved to the Chesapeake area and needed an orthodontist that could continue treatment for our two kiddos. Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics made our transition seamless and even provided an Invisalign option. The staff is amazing and the facilities are top notch!"
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"This is an OUTSTANDING team of dental professionals. We are greeted with smiles every time and wait less than 5 minutes to be called back for our appointment. This is EXCEPTIONAL when compared to the usual, long waiting room wait in MANY practices. The changing seasonal themes is always surprising and enjoyable. THIS IS NOT THE USUAL MEDICAL FACILITY OFTEN VISITED. Doctors Frey and Hatcher are personable, very friendly and HAPPY to work with their patients. Theirs is the most pleasant office to visit and this team is competent and approachable all the time. I'd GIVE THEM A 10 if I could!"
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"We absolutely LOVE Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics. I have 3 daughters who went through braces for about ten years (2002-2012). Now, I am wearing Invisalign. They have been consistently professional and offer the very best care. I highly recommend them."
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"We love Dr. Hatcher and Dr. Frey! They are super thorough when you go in for an evaluation, and give you pricing up front. I visited a different local orthodontist, who wouldn’t give a price until after we started... they are detailed in the plan and the outcome is terrific! It is a wonderful practice with an amazing team! I highly recommend them!!"
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"I can't tell you how astonished I was with the customer service, everyone here is affectionate, and kind. I feel respected and important here. I am a current patient with crowding problems; Invisalign was what I went with because It doesn't seem too much of a chore to keep up with rather than braces. Thanks Dr. Hatcher for your stunning care; I know I'm in good hands and can't wait to see a different smile in the near future. I hope if you've read this far you choose to come here even if you live far away; it's definitely worth the drive. I would recommend this to anyone who is in need of an orthodontist."
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"Got my braces off today after 29 months of wearing them. When I came to Dr. Hatcher back in June 2017, my teeth looked like they were beat by Negan's bat, Lucille, from TWD. Today, I am a brand new person that has been cured of my zombie teeth apocalypse! Thank you Dr Hatcher, Shawna, and the rest of the staff! Your hard work has paid off and will not be forgotten. I will think of you every time I smile."
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"Five stars I scheduled a consult after seeing photos of Dr Frey’s cases with early development utilizing Invisalign. I also felt orthodontics should start early not late and I wanted the best for my 5yr old twins. I was blown away with Dr Frey’s clinical skills, understanding of sleep apnea in children, his updated technology and ability to do digital scans instead of impressions totally shows his education and expertise, but my biggest compliment was how well they treated my family. It’s care that is surpasses any practice I’ve seen. Thank you for educating us and giving us a sound treatment plan."
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"Dr. Hatcher is wonderful and the staff is exceptional! We have had a very positive experience here with both of our daughters. They go above and beyond and I recommend them to anyone who is looking for an orthodontist. They make you feel like family and the kids love going to their appointments. State of the art technology is used to transform smiles from good to great!"
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"Dr. Scott Frey is an amazing Orthodontist and very caring. The most important thing which many people don't understand is it's not just straightening your teeth but knowing your bite is right for the lifetime of functioning. It's well worth the investment and time to do it right, so it won't cost you even more down the road. I give him 5 stars!"
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"What a great experience! We were referred to Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics by our pediatric dentist’s office and they are very helpful and professional. Couldn't have had a better team to help my now 13-year-old achieve her perfect smile."
