Don’t Rush to Brush | Cosmetic Dentist Cambridge MA

Dentist in Cambridge

02139 Dentist

Are you a diligent brusher who grabs the toothbrush as soon as you finish each snack or meal? While there are significant benefits to regular brushing, hurrying your dental hygiene might be doing more harm than good. The key lies in understanding the effects different types of food and drinks have on your teeth.

The Dangers of Acidic Foods

Food and drinks that contain acids are particularly harmful to your teeth. Acid can wear away at the enamel on your teeth. As your enamel weakens, your risk for developing decay increases.

What Foods Should I Look Out For?

Fruits such as oranges, pineapples, and grapefruit contain problematic acids that can cause damage to your enamel. Diet sodas and wines can be just as damaging, as can fruit juices such as orange juice. Tomato products and foods such as pizza, salsa, soups, and sauces also contain acids.

But Brushing My Teeth Helps, Right?

Not necessarily. The acids in these foods weaken the enamel on your teeth. After eating or drinking a highly acidic product, your teeth are in a particularly vulnerable state. Enamel protects your teeth, and it is the strongest mineral in your entire body. However, the layers of your teeth beneath the enamel are not as strong and resilient. If you brush your teeth immediately after consuming something acidic, you can drive the acid further into your teeth. This speeds up the process of breaking down your enamel.

When Should I Brush?

Wait about 20 minutes after consuming acidic foods or drinks before brushing your teeth. While waiting, your mouth will produce saliva which helps to neutralize acids and wash away bacteria. Drinking water, rinsing your mouth, or chewing sugarless gum can help neutralize acids more quickly.

Should I Always Wait to Brush My Teeth?

While you should not rush to brush after eating acidic foods, you should not wait long after eating foods that are extremely sticky and sugary. If you are eating candy, taffy, or another sticky treat, waiting is not the best option. Our dentist in Cambridge, MA recommends that the sooner you can clean these sugary substances off your teeth, the better.

Should I Just Stop Eating Acidic Foods?

Acidic foods such as fruits contain vitamins and nutrients that are an essential component to your diet. While you don’t have to avoid these foods altogether, you should be mindful of how they impact your teeth. Maintain a daily oral hygiene schedule that includes regular flossing and at least two rounds of brushing for two minutes.

For more dental health tips, or to schedule your next visit to our office, please contact our dental office in Cambridge, MA.

Sweet Spot Dental
Phone: (617) 945-1974
cash, credit card
763 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 1
Cambridge, MA 02139

Return to Blog Articles

Visit Our
Cambridge Office

Cambridge, MA Dentist

763 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 1, Cambridge, MA 02139

Phone: (617) 945-1974

Email: Hello@SweetSpotDental.com

Hours:
Monday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: By appointment only.

Read Our
Dental News

Cambridge Cosmetic Dentist

Cambridge MA dentist

Decrease Your Odds of Hypertension | Cambridge MA Dentist

June 1, 2023

  You may be unaware of how your oral health can be an indicator of your overall health. The warning […]

Camebridge MA dentist, dentist near m, dentist in Cambridge

Chew on This: Foods for Healthy Teeth | Cambridge MA Dentist

May 15, 2023

   No time to brush or floss your teeth? When brushing or flossing isn’t convenient, you can still keep your […]

Cambridge MA dentist, dentist near me, dentist in Cambridge

Unexpected Ways to Use Toothpaste | Cambridge MA Dentist

May 1, 2023

  Toothpaste does a great job of cleaning teeth, but there are many other uses for toothpaste that you might […]