Why Should You Drink Water in the Morning Before Brushing?

It is common knowledge that you need to drink 7-8 glasses of water every day. Your body needs water to carry out all of its functions. While it is understandable that you will have to space out your drinking, many people are left asking the question – ”Should they drink water before or after brushing their teeth?” Read on to find out.

Drinking Water First Thing In The Morning

You can indeed drink water right after you wake up, even before you brush your teeth. In fact, this practice can do you a world of good:

• Your body uses up its water supply during the night when you sleep and you don’t always wake up in the middle of the night to refill your water stores. That is why you should drink water as soon as you wake up, it will rehydrate you.
• The germs and bacteria inside your mouth multiply during the night. When you drink water in the morning before brushing, it will clean out your mouth and make toothbrushing more effective.
• When you make a habit of drinking water before brushing, you will notice your immunity becoming more robust. There will be fewer incidents of you falling prey to illnesses such as common cough and cold, flu or hay fever.
• Yet another surprising benefit is that drinking water before brushing will lower high blood pressure and regulate blood sugar levels throughout the day.
• When you start the day with a glass of water, you ensure that problems like gastritis or indigestion will not plague you.
• Lastly, this practice will make both your skin and hair soft and supple.

Let me tell you about an interesting observation. In a study, it was seen that drinking water before a meal might help overweight and obese older adults eat less. Adults were given either a glass of water or no water before breakfast. The ones who drank water ate about 13% less food. This suggests that drinking water before snacks or meals may be a simple but effective way for older adults to control their weight.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)

Also Read: Water for Weight Loss – How it Helps?

What Causes Bad Morning Breath?

• One of the main causes of bad breath is a condition called dry mouth. Dry mouth occurs when we go to sleep and saliva production is lower. Saliva is acidic and helps to keep bacteria populations controlled. But when we go to bed, the lower levels of saliva allow the bacteria to multiply and result in bad morning breath. Brushing and flossing your teeth well to get rid of any food particles will help combat this issue since the bacteria feed on the food particles left in between your teeth. 
• Drinking water in the morning will help to flush out these bacteria and get rid of the dry sensation simultaneously. Also, apart from dental hygiene practices like brushing and flossing, you should rinse your mouth with water after every meal, this can help to reduce the food particles on your teeth.

From what I have seen, dehydration may make you feel tired and even nauseous. Sometimes, when you wake up in the morning not feeling great, it’s because your body didn’t get enough water the previous day. Water is important because it improves the blood and oxygen flow, which might make you feel more awake and energised. To start your day off right, try drinking a large glass of water as soon as you wake up!

Dr. Smita Barode, B.A.M.S, M.S.

What About Drinking Water After Brushing?

• The answer to this question is an emphatic NO. Not just water, you should not be consuming any liquids or solids right after brushing.
• Drinking water after brushing your teeth reduces the efficacy of your toothpaste. As it is, when you rinse out your mouth after brushing, most of the beneficial elements in your toothpaste are washed away. But some still linger among your teeth and gums and these remnants will protect your teeth throughout the day. Now if you drink water after you brush, you will be flushing down the remains of the toothpaste. This will leave your mouth defenseless.
• Wait 15-20 minutes before you drink or eat anything.
• There is no better way to start the morning than with a glass of water before you brush your teeth. There are tons of benefits of drinking water in the morning that will keep you going strong all day. Just try to avoid drinking water right after you brush.

From my perspective, it is important to stay hydrated to avoid headaches caused by water deprivation and dehydration. Therefore, drinking water as soon as you wake up in the morning might help with dehydration-related headaches throughout the day.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Read More: How To Stay Hydrated?

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability, or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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