Thanks for this comment. Going to change my eating habits as a result.

I thought one weird trick to having good teeth was outright avoiding sugary drinks (soft drinks) and snacks. I always assumed avoiding causes was more important than remediation (teeth cleaning). Anecdotally, it seems reasonable.

That said, flossing gets rid of obvious stuck gunk, so I do that (with care to avoid damaging gums).

It's not just sugar. Soda water would do it too.

And it's not just carbonated beverages. Tea also is acidic

This is exactly right. If you really want to brush after eating acidic foods, at the very least swish generously with water first. Ideally, use a pre-brushing rinse that restores your mouth's pH balance.