Ever wondered why certain foods taste
unpleasant after brushing your teeth in the morning? Most of us have
experienced that bitter taste every now and then, but what exactly causes
it?
Your Mint Toothpaste Flavor Isn’t To Blame
It’s
a common misconception that mint-flavored toothpaste causes the
unpleasant taste when eating that first meal after brushing. In reality,
it’s a chemical found in most toothpastes called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or other variants like sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These chemical compounds are known as surfactants, which are foaming agents which make it easier to spread toothpaste evenly when you brush.
Surfactants Affect Your Taste buds
Surfactants like SLS affect your tastebuds in a couple of different ways. First,
it suppresses receptors that pick up the sweet taste in food and
drinks. This is why some foods just taste a little more bland if you’ve
recently brushed your teeth. The second way surfactants affect your taste is it enhances bitter flavors, so sour food and drinks taste especially bitter.
This
effect is especially noticeable in orange juice. Believe it or not,
your morning glass of OJ is actually surprisingly sour if you take away
the sugar. So when you take a sip of orange juice after brushing your
teeth, not only will SLS inhibit your ability to taste your drink’s
sweetness, it will enhance the underlying sour flavor and make it really
bitter.
Don’t Worry, It Doesn’t Last Long!
Fortunately
for us, the effects of SLS don’t linger too long in the morning. After
about 30 minutes, your saliva will have diluted the leftover surfactants
and things begin to taste normal again. In order to avoid the
unpleasant taste after you brush, take a little time to read the paper
or accomplish other to-do’s in your regular morning routine before you
eat. Rearranging morning activities is an easy way to help your
breakfast taste sweet!
We Have A Pretty Sweet Gig
We
love making our patients smile. Whether it’s through fun tips like this
or answering questions about your unique oral health situation, our
priority is keeping your teeth happy and healthy. Do you have any more
questions about your morning oral hygiene routine? We’d love to answer
them! Call us or let us know in the comments below!
Thank you for giving us a reason to smile!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the
advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have
regarding medical conditions.
