It might seem contradictory for a dentist to tell you not to brush your teeth, but the key factor that we at Jacques Dentistry want to stress is that when you brush your teeth is very important. There can be a right time and a wrong time to brush.
Everyone's mouth contains plaque, which can be described as an organized colony of bacteria. These bacteria are attached to the tooth enamel and metabolize sugar, which produces damaging acids. Sugary foods -- especially those that are sticky or liquid -- are not only cavity-causing, but also tend to be very acidic themselves.
Ingesting these acidic foods or drinks lowers the pH in your mouth, creating an acidic environment. It can take awhile for your mouth's pH to return to normal. Sodas (even diet sodas!) can have a pH as low as that of lemon juice or vinegar! Acid demineralizes, erodes, and weakens the tooth surface which makes it more prone to decay.
While it might seem like the best solution is to remove these acids from your mouth by quickly brushing them away, brushing your teeth immediately after ingesting acidic foods or drinks can actually do more harm than good. Acids (such as from sports drinks, sodas, or wine) essentially etch the tooth surface. If you scrub your teeth with a toothbrush right after drinking something acidic, you can scratch and abrade your teeth. However, if you wait for about 30 minutes, your saliva will naturally neutralize the acid and bring your mouth to normal pH that is better for brushing.
The best choice is to rinse your mouth with plain water right after eating or drinking something acidic. Rinsing with water helps balance the mouth's acidity and prevents the damage that is caused from immediately brushing.
These recommendations about timing your brushing also apply to those patients who suffer from acid-reflux disease or morning sickness that causes vomiting. Neutralize the acidity before brushing!
If you have questions about your brushing habits or about how your diet may be affecting your teeth, do not hesitate to discuss it with us at your next hygiene appointment or call our Greenville, SC, dental office to schedule a consultation.
