Is Brushing Your Teeth after Eating Fruits A Good Idea?

Fruits are a great source of Vitamins and other nutritions. It is common that people eat an apple after lunch or before bed. Many fruits are strongly acidic such as apples and oranges, and it is widely believed brushing your teeth right after eating fruits could swipe away the acid and protect our oral health.

However, rather than providing protection, brushing teeth too soon after eating fruits would cause damage and lead to tooth decays. Most fruits contain a high volume of sugar, which, combined with the acid, will soften the enamel and make it prone to damage.

If we brush our teeth during this time, the toothbrush might wear down the enamel to cause an increased chance of tooth decays. In fact, the hardness of the enamel won’t return to its regular level until 30 minutes after. Candies may have similar impact on our teeth, for the sugar inside the mouth will create a large amount of acidoid, increasing the risk of tooth decays. It is best to wait for at least 30 minutes to brush the teeth after eating fruits, and avoid candies or high sugar consumption at late night, especially for children.