We’ve all experienced it! You wake up, brush your teeth, and head to the kitchen to pour yourself a refreshing glass of orange juice. But then, yuck! Unfortunately, you find that the juice tastes nasty. It’s a shame that this is the thanks we get for starting our day off on the right foot with good oral hygiene and a dose of vitamin C.
Even though it’s a bummer, there is at least a reason why this happens. We are here today to clear the mystery and inform you about why orange juice tastes so bad after you brush.
It’s All Because of This One Ingredient
You can blame it all on sodium laureth sulfate (SLS). This is a common ingredient in toothpaste and also in things like soap and shampoo. Adding it in results in a bubble, foamy texture and helps these things to spread.
An unfortunate side-effect of SLS is that it can suppress your taste buds, making it difficult for you to taste different flavors. This happens due to SLS’s interaction with the fatty molecules on your tongue, called phospholipids, which dull bitter tastes.
Are You Powerless Against SLS?
There isn’t a way to counteract the effects of SLS, but the good news is that if the bad orange juice taste really bothers you, you can look for a toothpaste that doesn’t contain SLS. SLS doesn’t actually clean your teeth any better. It’s more about the bubbles it creates that help us to feel clean.
If you’d rather keep the foamy paste, another way to combat the bad taste is to chew sugar-free gum or sip some water before your orange juice.
Why Not Brush Your Teeth After Your Orange Juice?
We see your thinking! It does seem to make sense, but this isn’t a good idea. Brushing immediately after consuming something acidic, like orange juice, can actually be harmful to your teeth.
When you consume acidic foods or drinks, which include orange juice and coffee, your enamel is temporarily weakened due to acidic pH levels. Brushing during this pH state can damage your enamel.
If you wait 30 minutes before brushing, you should be in the clear! So, if you have time to wait, by all means, wait until after you brush.
Enjoy Your Orange Juice, and Keep on Brushing!
If you know the bad taste of orange juice after brushing, that probably means you have decent oral hygiene habits! Keep it up, and if you want to learn more about SLS-free toothpaste, you can read about them here.