Am I serious? Don’t brush after eating? Yes, recent research shows that brushing too soon after meals (especially after eating acidic foods and drinks) can be harmful to the teeth. Brushing after an acid reflux episode can also damage the teeth.
Acid attacks your teeth; it erodes enamel and the dentin. Brushing can accelerate the process of erosion because brushing can push the acid deeper into the enamel and dentin layer.
What about diet soda? An increase in dentin loss was noted by researchers when brushing took place within 20 minutes after drinking diet soda. But there was less tooth wear when brushing took place 30-60 minutes later.
The conclusion is that to protect the dentin, people should wait at least 30 minutes to brush their teeth after drinking or eating acid. To remove acid, it is better to rinse out the mouth with water or an acid-neutralizing mixture: one part baking soda to eight parts water.
Hope this helps.
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