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That funny taste you experience when drinking OJ after brushing is caused by sodium lauryl sulfate (also known as sodium laureth sulfate), an ingredient used in many personal care products, including toothpaste.
Sodium lauryl sulfate—an effective foamer—acts as a taste modifier, temporarily suppressing the sweet receptors of the tongue, says Dr. Marci Pelchat of the Monell Chemical Senses Center. Since sweetness blocks bitter and sour flavors, its absence enhances the bitterness and sourness found in the citric acid of orange juice.
A simple solution to this problem is to use sodium lauryl sulfate–free toothpaste. Or drink milk, which, because it isn’t sweet, seems less affected.
CHOW’s Nagging Question column appears every Friday.
Toothpaste is very important, sure the brush does all the scrubbing, but there are ingredients in toothpaste that kill the germs your brush can't get to. I wouldn't want to take the risk of brushing without toothpaste.
As a dental assistant, I can tell you that it is definitely more beneficial to brush your teeth before meals than after. It removes much of the plaque causing bacteria before it can cause plaque and thereby reducing the amount of calculus your dentist has to scrape off later. I think that they'll soon be teaching this to young children in school. But remember, if you're going to brush before AND...+READ
As a dental assistant, I can tell you that it is definitely more beneficial to brush your teeth before meals than after. It removes much of the plaque causing bacteria before it can cause plaque and thereby reducing the amount of calculus your dentist has to scrape off later. I think that they'll soon be teaching this to young children in school. But remember, if you're going to brush before AND after every meal, use a soft bristle brush (I buy children's brushes), and always brush from the gum line down (or up, depending on which arch you're working on), or your teeth will get grooves in them that won't go away. Those grooves will collect food particles and will also make your teeth very sensitive. If you haven't been brushing properly you probably have them on your back teeth already and don't even know it yet.-COLLAPSE
As a compromise, it is also possible to brush without toothpaste. It's really the brush that gets the plaque off anyway.
You should brush longer because of not having the detergent there, but it gets rid of the taste problem.
there are also various other tasting toothpastes. I haven't experimented recently, but it might be worth playing around with testing if strawberry flavored toothpaste is...+READ
As a compromise, it is also possible to brush without toothpaste. It's really the brush that gets the plaque off anyway.
You should brush longer because of not having the detergent there, but it gets rid of the taste problem.
there are also various other tasting toothpastes. I haven't experimented recently, but it might be worth playing around with testing if strawberry flavored toothpaste is less horrible with orange juice.-COLLAPSE
I was raised to brush my teeth before breakfast ( as soon as I got up) and then again after eating. My mother's theory was that you could better taste the food if your teeth, and mouth, were clean. I guess she had something there. Then of course we had to brush again before heading off to school.
Many times I brush before breakfast, too, since I'll usually just grab a muffin and fruit and eat it on my morning commute. I don't think it's that uncommon. And no, I don't brush again afterwards.
There is a theory that if you get the plaque off of your teeth before a meal, then there are no germs on your teeth to take the food you're eating and turn it into tooth-destroying acids. Thus, it may be more effective than brushing after.
(I'm a dental hygienist.)
Most toothpastes incorporate an ingredient which cause long term protection. Obviously a sweet minty flavor which is designed not to go away right away is going to interfere with the flavors of breakfast if you have just brushed. If you don't care that your 6 to 12 dollar a pound coffee tastes awful or your 3.99 a liter OJ tastes funny, then I guess it doesn't matter - however, aren't you going...+READ
Most toothpastes incorporate an ingredient which cause long term protection. Obviously a sweet minty flavor which is designed not to go away right away is going to interfere with the flavors of breakfast if you have just brushed. If you don't care that your 6 to 12 dollar a pound coffee tastes awful or your 3.99 a liter OJ tastes funny, then I guess it doesn't matter - however, aren't you going to brush after breakfast too. Why not go green and save water by brushing only AFTER meals and not before?-COLLAPSE
No, not the only one. I brush before breakfast too. Often in the shower.
actually, i always brush my teeth before breakfast - first thing i do when i wake up. am i the only one???
Have you ever had the experience of having a mint and then drinking water that feels much colder than it is? Anyone have an idea why?
i don't agree -- (of course i'm more than likely wrong)
but it's orange juice which is affected only to me
chocolate milk and apple cider (both super sweet) taste exactly the same to me after brushing.
perhaps both of these don't have the bitter and sour notes the way OJ does tho
I have certainly noticed this phenomenon. But don't most of us brush our teeth AFTER breakfast, not before?
Agree with nitachondria. Its the mint!
Thank you for explaining a mystery from my childhood.
Although with the dry toast and burnt bacon, it sort of fit.
What are you doing drinking OJ after eating a mint? ;-)
that's weird, I thought it was the mint flavor, because I experience the same reaction after chewing mint gum or eating a mint.