The Influence of Erosive and Abrasive Effects of Interdental Brushing on Bovine Enamel and Dentine In Vitro.

Summary: Have you ever wondered if brushing your teeth right after drinking something acidic is bad for your teeth? Researchers tested this using cow teeth (which are very similar to human teeth) to see what happens when teeth are exposed to stomach acid or acidic drinks, brushing, or a combination of both. They found that acid alone causes a lot of tooth wear. But the absolute worst damage to the hard outer layer of the tooth (enamel) happened when acid and brushing were combined! Interestingly, for the softer inner layer of the tooth (dentin), acid alone caused the most wear over a 10-day period. The takeaway? Brushing alone is safe, but mixing acid and brushing can rapidly wear down your teeth. It is incredibly important to learn how to protect your smile from acid damage!