Don’t Brush Your Teeth After Consuming These 4 Beverages!

We’re sure you know how to brush your teeth and exercise all healthy oral hygiene activities to shine those pearly whites in social settings.

Tasks like brushing your teeth twice a day, using mouthwash, and not being too hard on your teeth aren’t too complex to do but are often riddled with mistakes, and the oral hygiene mistake we’re talking about today is the one you don’t know about.

Besides forgetting to brush or not floss as much, there’s an even bigger problem at hand that needs to be focused on.

Something that concerns the protective layer around teeth that we call enamel. We’ve heard of how over-brushing can lead to the weakening of the enamel, but the times you’re brushing your teeth matter as well.

That’s why today, we’re shining a light on 4 beverages that are harmful to your teeth, especially if you’re brushing your teeth after their consumption. 

1. So, What Beverages Are They?

If we’re to name a few, coffee, soda, red wine, and orange juice are the most common beverages that we use daily. 

These are the beverages that can cause damaged enamel, and there’s a scientifically backed explanation for it. That is the highly acidic nature of these beverages that can cause harm when coupled with toothpaste. 

Ezzar Charles Rolle, assistant professor at the University of Colombia, accurately explains the damaging effects of acidity on the enamel of teeth.

“When acidic materials are present in the mouth, they weaken the outermost layer of the teeth, which we call the enamel”, he explains. 

Brushing immediately after consuming acidic drinks and beverages can cause the acidic materials to damage the enamel disastrously. 

2. How Does Acidity Damage Your Enamel?

It’s important to know exactly how the damage to your enamel is caused, in an attempt to avoid this situation altogether. 

Dr. Peter Alldritt, head of the oral committee at the Australian Dental Association, explains that acidic drinks, like orange juice and red wine, soften the enamel by disrupting the normal pH of the enamel.

“Brushing your teeth straight after consuming something will damage this softened enamel”, he explains. 

Having too many acidic beverages is also the root cause of acid erosion on teeth, which is disastrous for teeth enamel. 

In a WebMD article, medically reviewed by Alfred Wyatt Jr, sour candies, soft drinks, and fruit drinks have been revealed to be the main reason behind acidic erosion. This, coupled with poor oral hygiene, can expose you to a large number of oral health problems. 

3. How Long Should You Wait?

Waiting after consuming these acidic beverages might sound counter-intuitive, but after what we’ve told you, it should make sense. 

While often dentists will recommend different waiting periods between consuming acidic beverages and brushing your teeth, anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour is more than enough. 

 Dr. Thomas Attin, the lead researcher at the Operative Dentistry, Göttingen University, presented his study results at his annual meeting, which accurately explains that anything more than 30 minutes wait is good after drinking something acidic. 

4. Can’t Wait That Long? There’s a Shortcut!

When it comes to oral hygiene, we don’t make room for any shortcuts and workarounds, as health is the priority. 

However, there are times when we can’t wait that long to brush our teeth again. 

According to the ADA (American Dental Association), if you can’t wait an hour before brushing your teeth again, swishing water around in your mouth speeds up the process. 

Additionally, chewing sugarless gum. Doing so for a few minutes can make room for you to brush your teeth, but should only be used as a last resort.