toothpaste

Jan 08, 2009 11:24

Dear Science,

Why oh why does toothpaste make orange juice taste like fermented death?

Love,

Raz.

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Comments 6

dennyt January 8 2009, 19:33:14 UTC
Toothpaste is a base, and OJ is an acid. You're titrating in your mouth!

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nubinski January 8 2009, 21:33:02 UTC
True, but...

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This is the detergent part of the toothpaste, the stuff that makes most of the lather when you brush (it shows up in shampoo for the same reason). It has a strange side effect, though: It desensitizes the taste buds that register sweetness. That's why orange juice tastes so awful right after you brush your teeth - your tongue is picking up only the sour and bitter flavors. As the amount in your mouth diminishes after brushing, your taste buds return to normal.

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ccarrico January 9 2009, 02:40:17 UTC
I wonder what happens when you precede its intake with Miracle Fruit?

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jestercard January 9 2009, 03:57:40 UTC
This is also doubled by the sodium saccharine which also overloads your sweetness sense. Try anything where you go from eating something very sweet to very bitter/sour and it usually doesn't taste pleasant.

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nubinski January 8 2009, 21:34:44 UTC
I should cite my sources, this is from a wired article I read a long while back. Pretty interesting read...

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/15-10/st_colgate

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nubinski January 13 2009, 20:12:51 UTC
As an experiment this morning, I brushed with SLS-free toothpaste and then took a swig of orange juice.

Tasted fine.

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