My Food Tastes Different After Brushing

Why Food Tastes “Off” After Brushing Your Teeth

Some people believe that drinking orange juice after brushing their teeth is one of the worst sensations someone can experience. Although the orange juice tastes disgusting in that moment, most of the time it tastes just fine. So, why do certain foods taste different right after we have brushed our teeth? The reason for this difference in taste is actually due to ingredients found in toothpaste called sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate. These compounds are often listed on toothpaste labels and other product labels as SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) or SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).

Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Your Toothpaste

SLES and SLS are foaming agents--also called surfactants--that are commonly used in most toothpaste brands as well as a number of other products we use every day. These common compounds are used in toothpaste formulas to make it easier to spread the toothpaste in a uniform fashion for a better clean throughout the mouth. SLES and SLS also have emulsifying action, which is what helps the toothpaste remove surface stains from the teeth while also dissolving debris.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Your Taste Buds

Even though SLES and SLS make it much easier to properly brush and clean teeth, it can also have a major effect on the taste buds in a few different ways. First, SLES and SLS suppress the receptors on the tongue that identify the sweetness in the foods we eat and drink, making them seem less sweet than normal. In addition to suppressing these receptors, they also enhance the receptors that identify bitter tastes in foods, which is what makes orange juice go from pleasantly citrus tasting to very, very bitter after brushing teeth.

The Bitterness Doesn’t Last

Even though SLES and SLS make many foods and drinks unpleasant after brushing your teeth, the good news is that this sensation does not last. The effects of SLES and SLS will only last about 30 minutes after toothpaste has been used – the mouth’s saliva works to wash away and dilute the compound leftover after brushing. And this is exactly why people do not recommend drinking your morning orange juice right after brushing your teeth!

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