Nothing ruins a morning quite like the unsavory flavor of orange juice after you’ve brushed your teeth.
If this bad taste is keeping your from your toothbrush or your juice in the morning, we’ve explained what causes it and what you can do to prevent it.
The Offending Ingredient
The root of this misfortune is an ingredient called sodium laureth sulfate (SLS). This additive belongs to a class of additives called surfactants, which helps products to suds, swish, and spread well. SLS can be found in most toothpastes, shampoos, and soaps.
SLS changes the way you taste your juice in two ways:
- Suppresses Sweet Tastes: SLS interacts with the receptors in your taste buds that allow you to taste sweet flavors.
- Enhances Bitter Tastes: Your tongue is covered in fatty particles called phospholipids. These suppress bitter flavors. SLS breaks down these fatty molecules.
So even though SLS fills your mouth with bubbles and foam that clean your teeth, it alters your taste buds and makes your juice taste bad.
Don’t Let SLS Ruin Your Breakfast
Fortunately for orange juice lovers, there are ways to keep your teeth clean and still start the day with a refreshing glass of OJ. SLS isn’t a necessary component to your toothpaste, and there are products on the market that don’t contain it.
SLS-free toothpaste won’t be as sudsy, so if you are someone looking to get the best of both worlds, there are alternatives. Try chewing sugar-free gum or drinking a full glass of water after you brush your teeth.
This will increase the flow of saliva, which may help wash away some of the SLS.
Why Not Brush Your Teeth After Breakfast?
This seems like good thinking, and it would make your juice taste better, but it comes at a price to the health of your teeth.
Acidic foods, like orange juice, grapefruit, or coffee, cause a temporary weakness in your enamel. If you brush your teeth while they are in this weakened state, you could cause sensitivity, pain, and cosmetic issue to your teeth.
You can brush your teeth after consuming acidic foods or drinks, but just be sure to wait 30 minutes.
Have Clean Teeth and Enjoy Your AM Juice
We’ve hoped we’ve provides some tips and tricks that will allow you to thoroughly clean your teeth and enjoy you OJ as well!
To find out more about SLS free toothpastes, check out this article.