Why Should You Avoid Orange Juice After Brushing?

Dentist Blog

You have probably realized that orange and other sweet juices don't taste so good just after you have brushed your teeth. But many don't know why the taste changes from sweet to bitter after brushing. In order to understand why the taste changes, you should know about the primary ingredients contained in your favorite toothpaste and how this results in a change of taste.

What Are The Primary Ingredients in Toothpaste?

There is a variety of ingredients in the different toothpastes to suit their specific purposes. Here is a list of some of the most common ingredients.    

1. Fluoride. The main benefit of having fluoride in toothpaste is that it makes the ions in enamel stronger and strengthens those ions that are already weak. The most common types of fluoride used in toothpaste are sodium fluoride, sodium monophosphate, olaflur, and stannous fluoride.
2. Abrasive properties. Most toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients. Their purpose is to tackle plaque and remove light staining. An abrasive known as white mica is used in some brands. This abrasive is quite mild and it is the ingredient that makes a toothpaste glisten. Baking soda is another abrasive used in many brands.  
3. Surfactant (a type of detergent). This is an ingredient known as SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) causes the foaming effects in toothpaste and gives it greater cleaning capability. As well as removing plaque and staining, the surfactants create a slippery surface on the teeth that makes it hard for plaque to cling to.     
4. Other toothpaste ingredients include zinc chloride, triclosan (an antibacterial ingredient), calcium phosphate (which remineralizes tooth enamel), and spearmint or peppermint (for adding flavor to the toothpaste).  

Which of These Ingredients Cause Taste to Change?

It is thought that taste is perceived according to the different interactions between the receptors on the tongue and the taste buds, thus determining how flavors like sweet, sour, or salty are interpreted. In toothpaste, SLS suppresses the tongue's sweet receptors and destroys phospholipids, which curb the tongue's bitter receptors.

Therefore, it is these combined actions in SLS that are responsible for inhibiting sweet taste and making bitter taste more prominent, as is the case with orange and other sweet juice drinks. 

Another ingredient that is responsible for changing the flavor of orange juice after brushing is mint oil, in part because its flavor is strong and overpowering.    

Conclusion

So, there is the answer to why the sweet taste changes to bitter after brushing. Because toothpaste and orange juice react so badly together, it may be best to wait until after breakfast before brushing your teeth. In any event, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits every day and to make regular visits to your dentist if you want to ensure your smile remains healthy and white. For you children's need, visit a clinic specializing in pediatric dentistry.

24 November 2014