First, I learned that we were meant to continue being showered with gum more than I expected.
Then I learned that you’re not actually meant to “scrub” with your electric toothbrush (hmm).
And now it seems I’ve also been using mouthwash at completely the wrong time.
According to the NHS, we should wait a long time – even hours – after cleaning to put in freshening things.
When are you supposed to use mouthwash?
On their website, the Health Service explained that rinsing with mouthwash immediately after brushing your teeth could actually hurt your enamel.
This is because, they stated, using mouthwash (even one that contains fluoride) will wash away “concentrated fluoride in toothpaste left on the teeth.”
Not only does this mean you should also avoid rinsing toothpaste out of your mouth with water, but the NHS added that we should “choose another time to use mouthwash, such as after lunch”.
Yup – hours after most people first bring out their brush.
OWLSMOOR Dental Practice agrees Writing “The best time to use mouthwash is mid-morning or after meals and snacks for maximum benefit.”
And Holland Park Dental added that we should “try using mouthwash at lunch or when you get home from work or school” because it’s the best way to protect your teeth and keep your breath fresh.
Looks like I need to change my routine…
Are there any other tips?
Yes! Obviously we are not meant to drink or eat for 30 minutes after using fluoride mouthwash (I think that makes the after-food recommendation make more sense).
This is because otherwise you risk leaching the active ingredient from the enamel.
Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in water, soil , and rocks, has been shown to help protect our teeth from erosion and decay, which is why it’s so important to leave it on your teeth for a while.
“Rinshing dilutes it and reduces its preventive effect,” the NHS explained in the Local.
