Whenever I brush my teeth shortly after eating chocolate, it seems like the toothpaste never develops the nice foam. It’s almost like brushing my teeth with no toothpaste at all. Is there some compound in chocolate that inhibits the foaming properties of the toothpaste? I don’t think I’ve ever noticed this with any other kind of food.
There were once teeth brushing powders that did not make foam. I grew up with them and never understood the fascination with the foaming.
I occasionally eat chocolate and I always rinse with plain water a couple of time before brushing.
I don’t know but “they” say you’re supposed to wait 30 minutes between eating and brushing. Something about limiting abrasion of your enamel, or something.
ETA: Re: janeslogin: Baking soda based tooth care?
No, that’s eating and swimming. Equally bogus, I’m sure.
Could it possibly be the fat content of the chocolate? Eat a stick of butter, immediately brush teeth, and report back.
It’s both – the claim for tooth brushing is that the acid in food softens your enamel and so you’re not supposed to brush right after eating, to give the enamel a chance to re-harden.
Of course, I have no clue if this is true or not; I read it in this Cracked article (it’s number 2).
Hmmm. Cracked.com isn’t my preferred source for science, but a little research suggests that while this is often recommended, it may not be a sure thing in the dental world.
I have always heard that plaque can form within 20 minutes of eating, so if that’s true, that would contradict it.
I found one site, RDH, A magazine for dental professionals, that recommends brushing before eating, not after, and mentions nothing about the waiting-an-hour-after theory.
Meanwhile, I’ve written a dentist friend to see what he says.