Catherine Q. O'Neill, Allure magazine
Everyone knows you need to wait 30 minutes after eating before jumping into the pool. But did you know you also need to wait that long before brushing your teeth?
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I know. All this time you thought you were being a little whitening hot shot by running to the bathroom and scrubbing away those Pepsi stains before they settled. Turns out, you were actually scrubbing the acids in the soda further into your teeth. Yikes, right?
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Luckily, your body is a lot smarter than you and will neutralize those acids on its own. You just have to give it time. "Waiting 30 minutes allows for the saliva to disintegrate the acids in the mouth," says New York City cosmetic and restorative dentist Nancy Rosen. "You can also rinse with water so the acids aren't bathing the tooth." But don't think that just sodas are to blame. Red wine, white wine, sports drinks, and even some foods (tomatoes-who knew?) are also high in acids that erode enamel. And here's the worst part: Once it's gone, it's gone. "Enamel doesn't grow back," Rosen says. "When it breaks down, the teeth will begin to look yellow, they will lose any shine or luster they once had, and some can even have depressions in them." The only solution at that point is to bleach the teeth or have veneers or crowns put in, she says.
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So unless you want to take the pH of everything you put into your mouth (if you even know how to do that), Rosen recommends playing it safe and avoiding your toothbrush until at least 30 minutes after every meal. And if you really want to save your smile, cut down on acidic foods altogether, switch to a soft-bristle toothbrush, and use a toothpaste high in fluoride to keep your teeth healthy and stain-free.
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