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at Oasis Family Dental want to offer you the advice of balance in brushing teeth for optimal dental health.

Acid Erosion

Brushing your teeth immediately after meals may sound like a smart move, but you must think twice before doing so. If you have just consumed food or beverages that are acidic, your tooth enamel will be softened temporarily. Dr. Howard R. Gamble, president of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) points out that brushing teeth at the wrong moment can actually push acid deeper into your tooth enamel and dentin. Acid reflux is a health issue that can also cause enamel damage. Even though you may want to brush right away after something as unpleasant as a reflux episode, try rinsing your mouth with water instead. After about 30 minutes to an hour your saliva will be able to neutralize the acid in your mouth, thereby protecting your enamel from erosion.

Thirty Minutes to Brush Teeth

A research study that focused on acid erosion documented details of brushing teeth with varying timing. Participants were instructed to brush after a diet soda binge for 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes. A half hour was found to be an optimal waiting period. Volunteers that brushed after only 20 minutes had passed before brushing their teeth showed a much more rapid rate of dentin loss. Dentin is what lies underneath your enamel, making up the bulk of your tooth. Waiting at least 30 minutes or some amount of time between then and an hour resulted in participants presenting with considerably less wear on tooth enamel.

General Dentistry in Temecula

Oasis Family Dental provides comprehensive dental care for our patients of all ages. If you are in need of a checkup, cleaning, restorative procedures such as fillings or crowns, or one of the above-mentioned cosmetic procedures, contact our 92591 dental office by calling (951) 695-2290 to schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from Temecula and all surrounding communities.