Why you might’ve been brushing your teeth AND using mouthwash completely wrong

We all know that we should brush our teeth twice a day, floss and use mouthwash.

But all that effort can go to waste, and dentists warn that many of us are brushing our pearly whites incorrectly.

In fact, experts say we shouldn’t rinse our mouths with water immediately after brushing because it puts us on a one-way street for cavities.

Even rinsing with mouthwash right away can increase your chances of decay, according to the little-known advice.

That’s because rinsing your mouth will ‘wash away’ the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste, meaning it won’t work fully, says Dr. Shyaam Vallabh, Senior Dentist at Smmmile in Nottingham.

We should all be brushing our teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for around two minutes at a time, says the NHS.

Regular brushing like this helps prevent gum disease and cavities by removing any buildup of plaque, a film of bacteria that covers your teeth if you don’t brush them properly.

Tooth decay is a major problem in the UK. About a third of adults (33 percent) have cavities, and three-quarters have had a tooth pulled, according to the Oral Health Foundation.

Tooth decay is the destruction of the tooth caused by acids made by bacteria in dental plaque. Every time you have a sugary drink or food, it causes the bacteria in plaque to produce acid that attacks the teeth.

But it may not be enough to brush twice a day if you get water around your mouth after brushing.

‘If you rinse your mouth straight after brushing your teeth, the concentrated fluoride will be washed away before it has had a chance to work to its full effect,’ Dr Vallabh told MailOnline.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral and is found in varying amounts in water supplies across the UK.

It helps to strengthen the hard outer protective layer of teeth, called the enamel, which in turn protects the teeth from damage and wear.

Toothpaste containing fluoride is one of the best ways to strengthen your enamel and reduce the risk of cavities, which makes it important to leave this on your teeth for as long as possible, warns Dr. Vallabh.

The NHS also urges people to only spit out excess toothpaste and not rinse, as this will reduce the preventative effects of fluoride.

But if you’re eager to rinse the toothpaste off, you should wait at least 30 minutes, says Dr. Vallabh.

“If you’re still anxious to flush, I’d suggest waiting at least 30 minutes before flushing with water or consuming food or drink,” he says.

‘This allows the fluoride to be absorbed by the teeth and provides better protection.’

Although washing the toothpaste out of your mouth doesn’t directly cause cavities, repeatedly rinsing your mouth with water after brushing can increase your risk of cavities over time, he warns.

But even using a mouthwash to freshen your breath after brushing your teeth can reduce the enamel-strengthening effects of fluoride.

“Mouthwashes are generally used to freshen breath, and many of them don’t actually have oral health benefits,” says Dr. Vallabh.

‘There is a general consensus that it is more effective to use mouthwash after brushing.

‘However, at Smmmile we recommend using mouthwash at a different time of day to avoid washing the fluoride away from your teeth.’

Even using a mouthwash containing fluoride right after brushing can wash away the concentrated fluoride left on your teeth, says the NHS.

Instead, dentists encourage people to use mouthwash at a different time of day, such as after lunch.

However, dentists may recommend using a fluoride mouthwash if you are prone to gum disease or decay, says Dr. Nigel Carter at the Oral Health Foundation.

“If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist or dental hygienist may advise you to use an antibacterial or essential oil mouthwash to help reduce levels of harmful plaque bacteria,” he says.

‘A mouthwash with fluoride can be useful to add extra strength and protection to the enamel against tooth decay and erosion. A dentist may also prescribe a higher level of fluoride toothpaste if you are at greater risk of decay or if you have gum recession.’