# OJ and toothpaste.. Why the odd taste?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-and-toothpaste-why-the-odd-taste/154740>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 13, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-and-toothpaste-why-the-odd-taste/154740 "2003-02-13T02:43:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-and-toothpaste-why-the-odd-taste/154740/1 "2003-02-13T02:43:11Z")

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Is it because of the pH of the OJ mixed with (I’m assuming) basic toothpaste? Or would this simply result in H20 and a salt?

Is it an redox reaction creating elecricity?

I’m just tossing out a couple of guesses. Any facts on the subject out there?

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**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-and-toothpaste-why-the-odd-taste/154740/2 "2003-02-13T03:12:39Z")

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[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6427&highlight=toothpaste+orange](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6427&highlight=toothpaste+orange)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-and-toothpaste-why-the-odd-taste/154740/3 "2003-02-13T03:29:10Z")

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Thanks, **Padeye**.

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**Author:** ![Semantic\_Enigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Semantic\_Enigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semantic_Enigma)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-and-toothpaste-why-the-odd-taste/154740/4 "2003-02-13T03:37:26Z")

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Hi - I couldn’t stand that taste of OJ after brushing… it does have something to do with the sugars… I now use Tom’s Of Maine toothpaste and it doesn’t do that. You can find it at health food’s stores.

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**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oj-and-toothpaste-why-the-odd-taste/154740/5 "2003-02-13T04:03:56Z")

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I recently changed to Toms of Maine as well, but not for the same reason. It seems (at least with me) that the mint flavor of Tom’s is just as reactive to the OJ as the regular is. I switched simply because of recommendations from a few people I know at health food stores.