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How Should You Wait After Eating Before You Brush Your Teeth?
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 Oftentimes, it is tempting to brush your teeth immediately after you eat. In many cases this is good, especially if you just consumed something sticky, crunchy, or sugary that is stuck in your teeth. When it comes to brushing your teeth right after eating something acidic, like orange juice or sour candies, that might not be the best idea. Acids tend to soften your enamel, so brushing your teeth too soon after eating those foods can actually damage the enamel of your teeth further by pushing the acids even deeper into your teeth.
Drink Water Instead of Brushing!Instead of brushing your teeth right away, drink a glass of water. When you drink water, the acids are washed off your teeth. Keeping your mouth hydrated also helps to keep the production of saliva high, allowing you to limit the amount of acid that remains on your teeth.
Chew Sugarless GumChewing sugarless gum that is approved by the ADA is another way to decrease the amount of acids that are in your mouth. Gum also helps to increase the production of saliva in the mouth, helping to keep the damage from the acids to a minimum.
Brush for Two Minutes, Twice A DayNo matter when you brush your teeth, whether it is right after having a sugary snack or 30 minutes after drinking a soda, you should be in the habit of brushing for at least 2 minutes at a time. This gives you a better chance of removing all bacteria from your mouth and decreasing the risk of enamel erosion. |
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