11162 Why Does Orange Juice Taste So Bad After You Brush Your Teeth? Thu Jun 19 13:52:00 -0700 2008 http://www.chow.com/stories/11162 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:52:00 GMT Sodium lauryl sulfate is the culprit Sodium lauryl sulfate is the culprit. http://www.chow.com/assets/2008/05/NQ_105_3.jpg Michele Foley 62 Nagging Question 1 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.

]]> 5898 michele foley 2665 orange juice 15484 toothpaste 19527 brushing your teeth 19528 drinking oj after brushing 19529 sodium lauryl sulfate 19530 sodium laureth sulfate 19531 foamer 19532 marci pelchat 2516 monell chemical senses center 8211 sweetness 19533 sourness 19534 bitterness 8802 citric acid 15483 tom's of maine 805 milk