"One thing I'm curious about though: is brushing right after eating acidic fruits actually worse?"
Yeah, you're right to hold off brushing after citrus. My dentist said the same thing—brushing too soon can scrub away softened enamel. I usually wait at least 30 minutes after oranges or pineapple. Speaking of pineapple, it definitely makes my teeth feel sensitive too... I love it, but now I mostly stick to bananas or pears to avoid that weird sensitivity. Always something new to worry about with teeth, huh?
I've heard similar advice from my dentist too, though she recommended waiting even a bit longer—like 45 minutes—to be safe. Apparently, the acid from fruits like citrus or pineapple temporarily softens your enamel, and brushing immediately can actually cause more harm than good. I used to brush right after breakfast (which often included oranges or grapefruit juice) thinking I was doing the right thing, but it turns out I might've been slowly wearing down my enamel without realizing it.
As for pineapple sensitivity, you're definitely not alone there. Pineapples contain bromelain, an enzyme that can irritate sensitive gums and teeth. I adore fresh pineapple but honestly can't handle much of it anymore because of that weird tingling feeling—it almost feels like my teeth are buzzing sometimes. My dentist suggested rinsing with water or chewing sugar-free gum after eating acidic foods to help neutralize the acid quicker. That seems to have helped me a bit.
Also, bananas and pears are great alternatives since they're less acidic. I've found apples to be okay too, especially when eaten with cheese or something alkaline to balance things out. Teeth can be surprisingly picky, can't they? But at least there are workarounds so we don't have to completely give up the fruits we enjoy.
"Apparently, the acid from fruits like citrus or pineapple temporarily softens your enamel, and brushing immediately can actually cause more harm than good."
Yeah, learned this the hard way myself. Used to brush right after my morning smoothie (packed with pineapple and oranges), thinking I was being proactive... ended up with sensitive teeth for weeks. Now I just rinse first and wait it out.
Yeah, learned this the hard way myself. Used to brush right after my morning smoothie (packed with pineapple and oranges), thinking I was being proactive...
Totally relate to this. I used to think brushing immediately after eating citrus fruits was smart dental hygiene too, until my dentist gently corrected me. Turns out waiting about 30 mins really does spare your enamel... small changes make a huge difference over time.
"Used to brush right after my morning smoothie (packed with pineapple and oranges), thinking I was being proactive..."
Haha, same here—I thought I was killing it with dental hygiene by brushing immediately after my kiddo's orange juice breakfasts. Then our dentist casually dropped the "wait 30 mins" bomb on me. Felt like I'd been living a lie! Now we just rinse with water first and chill for a bit... small tweak, but hey, gotta protect those pearly whites.
