Eli5: Why do food taste different right after brushing with toothpaste?
In: Biology
Toothpaste removes the protective layer on your tongue. So you are getting the full taste of say Orange juice, without the normal buffer.
“When you brush your teeth, the toothpaste releases a foaming agent called sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). This SLS interferes with the proteins that line the membranes of taste cells in the mouth. This impairs the tongue’s ability to taste sweet flavours, replacing them with an unpleasant, bitter sensation.”
[Source](https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-does-toothpaste-make-everything-taste-horrible/)
If you really want the five year old version: the foam blocks the sweet taste buds.
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