/oss/taxonomy/term/637/all en /oss/article/did-you-know-health/why-does-orange-taste-so-horrible-after-brushing-my-teeth <p>If you have ever taken a good look at the back of a tube of toothpaste during those long two minutes of recommended brushing time, you may have noticed sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) listed as ingredients. Both of these are usually listed as a duo and are responsible for that bitter yucky taste that comes about when biting an orange after tooth brushing. Oranges contain a fair bit of citric acid, which has both a bitter and sour taste. For some reason, these compounds enhance the bitter taste and leaves the sour taste unaffected.</p> Thu, 06 Jun 2019 16:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7788 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/can-toothpastes-really-whiten-teeth <p>Hippocrates used a powder made from the skeletons of mice. Pliny the Elder used burnt eggshells, and the ancient Arabs resorted to twigs from the Arak shrub. What were they trying to do? Clean their teeth! Long before humans understood the chemical process of tooth decay and its health consequences, they struggled to have white teeth. This isn’t surprising given the allure of a bright white smile and the repulsion caused by a mouthful of decaying teeth.</p> Fri, 02 Nov 2012 04:32:29 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1736 at /oss