A dentist has revealed the surprising reason why you shouldn’t reach for the mouthwash bottle straight after brushing your teeth.
There is plenty of conflicting advice online on how best to take care of your teeth, so you may be thinking that a back to basics approach is best.
Surely then, the best way to keep your pearly whites squeaky clean would be a straightforward routine of brushing and flossing followed by a swig of mouthwash would be enough to do the job, right?
Well, not exactly, as one dental expert has now pointed out that overdoing it on the mouthwash could potentially damage your teeth.
Leading UK cosmetic dentist and President Elect of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Sam Jethwa has shared a series of tips with LADBible on the best ways to care for your teeth.
While discussing the optimal daily dental routine Dr. Jethwa explained that it is not advisable to use mouthwash straight after brushing your teeth as it can wash away fluoride, which is found in most toothpastes.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which can be found in the water and is added to most toothpastes due to its apparent ability to prevent tooth decay.
While there has been concern online about potential health risks associated with consuming fluoride in the past decade, medical experts maintain that it is completely safe to use in dental products.
The NHS advises that healthy adults should brush their teeth with a toothpaste containing 1,350 to 1,500 parts per million (ppm) fluoride.
It is also recommended that you spit out your toothpaste instead of swallowing it.
It’s for this reason that Jethwa and several other dentists (including advice outlined on the NHS website) urge people not to use mouthwash directly after brushing.
“It is not recommended to rinse directly after brushing your teeth,” Jethwa explained, adding that using a mouthwash immediately after brushing washes away the fluoride in toothpaste.
He added: “Basically, the more fluoride that remains on the teeth, the better it is for improving the strength of the enamel.”
Instead it is recommended that you use mouthwash at different times in the day, such as giving your mouth a refresh after lunch or several cups of coffee.
However, Dr. Jethwa also urged people not to follow ‘dangerous’ TikTok hacks and create DIY mouthwashes.
“I have come across some very dangerous DIY whitening hacks online,” he said.
“For example, one I saw consisted of mixing mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, the TikToker then advised using the mixture to rinse after brushing the teeth.
“I can not stress enough how dangerous this is.”