Acid rain effects

I was just watching a Sensodyne commercial and heard them mention this thing for the first time. Is it actually true that you shouldn't brush your teeth right after eating fruit or drinking anything acidic?
How much truth is there to that claim?

This really complicates things for me because I’m the type of person who feels like I absolutely have to brush my teeth immediately after eating any fruit.
Does anyone else here actually pay attention to that?

Well, I’m not entirely sure how much this applies strictly to fruit or acidic foods, but generally speaking—after you finish a meal—it might actually be more advisable to wait about 10 to 15 minutes before brushing your teeth (rather than diving straight in). You see, during that brief window, your saliva is still busy secreting those helpful enzymes that assist with digestion; essentially, the food processes more efficiently, which places far less strain on your gastrointestinal tract. As for the acidity issue? It's true—consuming excessive amounts of acidic stuff can certainly take a toll on your tooth enamel. The same logic applies to vomiting; people struggling with bulimia often deal with demineralized teeth, largely due to the presence of stomach acid. However, if you’re using a high-quality toothpaste or perhaps an aminofluoride treatment, you really shouldn't live in fear of anything acidic—just please, for heaven's sake, don't go three days without brushing your teeth!😬.

coppergardener said:I’m not sure how much this applies strictly to fruit versus acidic stuff, but honestly, you really shouldn't brush your teeth immediately after eating. It's better to wait about 10 to 15 minutes because your saliva is still pumping out enzymes during that window to help break down the food, which makes digestion smoother and puts less strain on your GI tract. As for the acid part, yeah, it's true—if you're constantly consuming highly acidic things, it's going to wreck your enamel. Same goes for when people vomit; those struggling with bulimia often deal with demineralized teeth because of the stomach acid. But if you're using a high-quality toothpaste or an amine fluoride treatment, you don't need to live in fear of anything acidic, just... maybe don't go three days without brushing your teeth.😬 .

I think I'd actually lose my mind if I didn't brush for three days straight. 🤣
Maybe I'll start cutting back on the lemonades....

Take phosphoric acid, for example—it’s right there in Coca-Cola and similar sodas. If you brush your teeth immediately after drinking them, you’re basically asking for trouble. You'll end up with damaged enamel because you aren't giving it any time to remineralize with saliva; instead, you're taking acid-softened enamel and scrubbing it aggressively with a toothbrush right after it's been compromised.

Gerald Smith76 said:...once the acid goes to work and basically ruins it...

😉 hehe, you mean it gets trashed...

But letting go of a Coke is easier said than done...🙂

I don't touch carbonated drinks, so I don't really have anything to worry about on that front...

Isn't putting vinegar in your salad considered bad for you too?🙂

Is this that thing where I eat an apple or some other fruit and feel like my tooth enamel is literally melting away?😁

Kimberly Davis52 said:Is that what causes that sensation—you know, like my tooth enamel is just melting away—right after I eat an apple or some other kind of fruit? 😁

Good grief, don't tell me you're turning into a hypochondriac too.😁

Look, I’m not a hypochondriac, but my teeth are killing me every time I try to eat fruit😁. I can’t even enjoy a simple snack without constant pain hitting me the second I bite down.

Unfortunately, it’s the cold, hard truth. I just found out recently that I’ve got some decay starting at the roots—looked like brownish buildup, maybe tartar or whatever, I don't know, I've never dealt with this before. So I head to the dentist, right? And she's basically like, "Yeah, acid erosion totally ate through your enamel. Your only option is coming back so we can patch those spots up." Apparently, it’s from all the acidic stuff I eat combined with brushing too hard. She told me to switch to a soft-bristle brush and some mild paste—absolutely no whitening crap—and recommended Parodontax.
And seriously, it’s such a catch-22—you try to be all on top of your hygiene and end up wrecking your teeth instead. 😲

So what’s the move if I actually have acid erosion and my enamel is just disappearing?

I’ve been using Sensodyne paste and honestly, I’ve stopped eating fruit, salads, and pretty much everything else because I’m totally panicking about my teeth.

Right now, it’s just soft, cooked foods and steamed veggies.

But I’m terrified I can’t live like this forever.

My enamel is incredibly thin; I’ve lost tooth volume and they’re starting to chip along the bottom edges.

Also, does coffee actually damage enamel?!

I’ve heard coffee can actually be pretty rough on your gums. :sadface:

Honestly, I think the vomiting is actually the worst part of the whole ordeal, mostly because that stomach acid absolutely wreaks havoc on your teeth. I’ve had a taste of that firsthand—one time after I was sick ( 😬 ), my teeth felt incredibly gritty, almost like they’d been rubbed with sandpaper. 😁
It took until the very end of the day for things to finally feel somewhat normal again.

Bradley Barnes90 said:I heard the vomiting is actually the worst part because the stomach acid absolutely wrecks your teeth. I've dealt with it firsthand—one time after I was sick ( 😬 ), my teeth felt incredibly rough, almost like sandpaper. 😁
It took until the very end of the day for them to finally feel "normal" again.

Yeah, that’s true. If you're dealing with frequent acid reflux, maybe try covering your teeth with something to protect them. Or just learn how to manage it so it doesn't catch on your enamel. Honestly, just try keeping your mouth wider open. 😬

Amy Lee18 said:Yeah, true. Next time, maybe just try covering your teeth with something if you're burping that much. Or just learn how to burp properly so it doesn't get stuck in your teeth. Open your mouth wider, for crying out loud. 😬

🤣
I honestly don't know whether I should thank you for the "advice," but let me save you the trouble... 😬
I don't burp that often; I do my best to avoid it entirely.
And no, I have zero intention of taking "burping lessons." Unless it's absolutely necessary, in which case I'll just make sure I'm somewhere private so I don't leave a mess behind. 😁
🙂

Bradley Barnes90 said:🤣
I’m not sure whether I should thank you for the advice, but honestly, don't bother...😬
I don't burp that often; I try to avoid it as much as humanly possible.
And I certainly have no intention of learning how to do it on command. If it's absolutely unavoidable, I'll just make sure I find somewhere private so I don't leave a mess everywhere.😁
🙂

I still remember you and your whole "dark humor rules this place" routine😉
which is exactly why I felt like giving you that bit of advice. 🤣

A "safe place" to burp? Care to enlighten me? 😬

Amy Lee18 said:I still remember you and your whole "dark humor lives here" routine, 😉
so consider this my official unsolicited advice. 🤣

Looking for a safe spot to burp up what you ate? Enlighten me. 😬

Hmm... is this because of a warning or something else? 😁
Damn, I guess I actually have to maintain some semblance of order around here...😬
The safest bet would be somewhere far away from everyone else, where nobody can hear me and I've got a trash can within arm's reach. Honestly, the bathroom is best. It makes cleanup way easier.
The absolute worst choice is anywhere with carpet.

Bradley Barnes90 said:Hmm... was it because of the warning or something else? 😁
Well, damn it, I guess I actually have to maintain some semblance of order here...😬
Ideally, the perfect spot would be far away from everyone else so nobody hears me, and I'd need a trash can within arm's reach. A restroom would be best. It's just easier to clean up.
The absolute worst choice is anywhere with carpet.

A warning? Please. I don't think you've ever actually accomplished anything. 😁