Post by Zadkiel on Sept 26, 2016 12:47:36 GMT
The thinking behind this idea is obvious: To protect your teeth from decay, get rid of leftover food as early as possible. But you'd really be better served to wait a while before brushing those chompers.
The human mouth has a one–two punch to defend itself. One is tooth enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The second line of defense is saliva, which contains some of the same enzymes used in detergent to break down starches (known as amylase) and antibacterial substances so effective that wounds in the mouth will heal twice as fast as those located on the skin. Bottom line, saliva is your friend.
So give your body's natural ability to break down foods a chance to work after you eat. The acidic environment in your mouth temporarily softens the enamel on teeth while it breaks down food particles and washes them away. Brush too soon after meals and you'll end up scrubbing away tooth enamel in the process. It's not a bad idea to wait at least 45 minutes before grabbing that toothbrush.
The human mouth has a one–two punch to defend itself. One is tooth enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The second line of defense is saliva, which contains some of the same enzymes used in detergent to break down starches (known as amylase) and antibacterial substances so effective that wounds in the mouth will heal twice as fast as those located on the skin. Bottom line, saliva is your friend.
So give your body's natural ability to break down foods a chance to work after you eat. The acidic environment in your mouth temporarily softens the enamel on teeth while it breaks down food particles and washes them away. Brush too soon after meals and you'll end up scrubbing away tooth enamel in the process. It's not a bad idea to wait at least 45 minutes before grabbing that toothbrush.
