Careful when you brush
You can damage your teeth by brushing them right after eating or drinking food and drinks such as wine, citrus fruits, sugary drinks or juice with high acidity levels, according to Dr Peter Alldritt, chairman of the Australian Dental Association’s oral health committee.
ABC Health Fact Buster online reported him saying that “if you then go and brush your teeth straight away you’re going to damage the softened enamel”.
Waiting to brush for at least 30 minutes gives your mouth time to produce enough saliva to neutralize the acidity, Dr Alldritt says. This saliva helps your teeth to harden and absorb more calcium, which then acts like a coat of armour.
You especially want to avoid brushing if you’ve consumed anything that contains citric acid, found in fruit, or phosphoric acid, which most soft drinks are filled with. Drinks that combine both of these acids, such as lemon-flavoured fizzy drinks, are harder for saliva to neutralise.
You can also damage tooth enamel by grinding your teeth, brushing too hard, or chewing on hard objects, such as pens.
Alldritt says it’s vital you protect every bit of enamel that you have, so if you enjoy acidic food or drinks then you might want to:
• rinse your mouth with tap water after eating or drinking (this will help reduce the acidity)
• chew sugar-free gum, (not only does this leave a fresh taste in your mouth, it also encourages saliva production)
• eat a piece of hard cheese (this can also help with the creation of saliva, while the calcium in the cheese helps strengthen your teeth).
But there are some times when you should brush straight away, especially if you have eaten foods that are sticky, such as hard or chewy lollies, caramels or dried fruit.
Dentists recommend you brush your teeth twice a day: after breakfast and just before bedtime – unless you’ve just had something acidic.
It’s best to avoid eating or drinking after you brush at night, as the toothpaste will cover your teeth with a thin layer of fluoride, which will help strengthen your teeth while you sleep.
And remember to floss daily to remove food and plaque bacteria from in between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach.
