How long should i wait after eating acidic foods to brush my teeth? i am going to the state science fair soon, and many of my judges from the school and district levels have asked me how long they should wait to brush their teeth after eating acidic food

Hello; : Hello; i'm having a little difficulty trying to interpret your question. Why would you want to wait a certain amount of time to brush your teeth after eating acidic foods? I must assume that your project addresses the effect tha acid has on the demineralization of the enamel matrix. The acids can be from citrus fruits, sodas, and from the bacteria that reside in your mouth, to name a few. So, in reality, to really minimize the effects of the acids on your teeth after ingestion you should brush your teeth immediately... But that is often not possible for most people. It is for that reason that we recommend limiting intake, and more importantly, frequency of intake of sugar laden foods and foods that are acidic in nature. Best of luck with your presentation.

As : As soon as your teeth are exposed to an acidic environment breakdown of the enamel and / or dentin (root surface) begins. When you eat a meal the bacteria in your mouth immediately start to convert the material into acid, that is why it is recommended that you brush and rinse immediately after eating. Failing that, chewing a xylitol based sugar free gum is the next best thing because it stimulates your salivary flow which bathes the teeth and the xylitol help to counteract the bacteria. Information from xylitol web site: xylitol is a polyol or sugar alcohol that makes an excellent sweetener, as it has many of the same properties as table sugar (sucrose). However, xylitol gum has some added benefits. Not only does it have fewer calories and less effect on blood sugar than sucrose, but xylitol gum has the added benefit of inhibiting the creation of acid in the mouth. This minimizes the damage done to your teeth, as well as allowing your teeth to heal at a faster rate. Xylitol has a low glycemic index of 7, compared to sugar's level of 83. It is recommended that you chew a piece of xylitol gum after every meal or snack for maximum benefit to your teeth as it may reduce the risk of tooth decay. Products sweetened with xylitol create an unwelcome environment for bacteria; they simply cannot stick to teeth in a xylitol-rich environment.

The : The question that many judges asked you was: how long should a person wait to brush their teeth after eating acidic foods? I would explain the longer you wait to brush after eating acidic foods, the more damage occurs to the enamel of the tooth through demineralization. Acidic build up on teeth can come from acidic fruits, juices, sodas, and general bacteria buildup on the tooth's surface. I would try to stop this process as soon as possible and brush or at least rinse your mouth with water to help remvove the acidic content. Chewing sugerless gum helps also because it stimulates the salivary glands which counteracts the growth of bacteria.