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Why does brushing one’s teeth completely RUIN orange juice immediately afterward?

Dr. Aris Thorne
Dr. Aris Thorne
Senior Science Editor · Feb 4, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Most toothpaste has a chemical in it called SLS, which is what makes the toothpaste foamy. SLS temporarily blocks your tastebuds from being able to taste "sweet" well. It also removes fat.

76
Words

1 min
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#181
of 500 in Human Body

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The Short Answer

Most toothpaste has a chemical in it called SLS, which is what makes the toothpaste foamy. SLS temporarily blocks your tastebuds from being able to taste "sweet" well. It also removes fat. Fat normally blocks you from tasting "bitter." So you taste less "sweet," and more "bitter." Orange juice is a citrus, which is normally a yummy combination of sweet and sour. Get rid of the sweet, add in some bitter, and your OJ tastes nasty.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Sweet, bitter, toothpaste

This explanation focuses on sweet, bitter, toothpaste and spans 76 words across 5 sentences. The depth is typical for Human Body questions (category average: 69 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Most toothpaste has a chemical in it called SLS, which is what makes the toothpaste foamy.” It then elaboratesultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.

How This Compares in Human Body

Ranked #181 of 500 Human Body questions by answer depth (top 37%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why brushing one's teeth completely ruin orange juice immediately afterward?

Most toothpaste has a chemical in it called SLS, which is what makes the toothpaste foamy. SLS temporarily blocks your tastebuds from being able to taste "sweet" well. It also removes fat. Fat normally blocks you from tasting "bitter." So you taste…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Human Body questions?

This is an above-average answer at 76 words, ranked #181 of 500 Human Body questions by depth. The key concepts covered are sweet, bitter, toothpaste.

What approach does this answer take to explain brushing one's teeth completely ruin orange juice immediatel?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 76 words. It is categorized under Human Body and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.