A dental expert has issued a warning about a common oral hygiene habit that could be undermining your dental health: using mouthwash immediately after brushing your teeth. Dr Deepa Chopra from Whites Dental, who regularly shares oral health tips online, says that rinsing with mouthwash after brushing can wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste – a key ingredient that helps strengthen teeth and prevent cavities.
“After brushing, you should spit but avoid rinsing your mouth straight away,” she explains. “Leaving the fluoride on your teeth gives it time to work, helping to reverse early signs of decay and strengthen enamel. When you use mouthwash right after brushing—especially if it contains less fluoride than your toothpaste—you may be undoing some of the benefits.”
Instead, Dr Deepa recommends using mouthwash at a separate time during the day – for example, after meals or snacks like tea, coffee, or lunch. This can allow mouthwash to freshen breath and loosen food particles without interfering with the protective fluoride coating left by toothpaste.
She also cautions against brushing your teeth immediately after eating, particularly acidic foods or drinks, as this could wear down enamel while it’s temporarily weakened. “If you’ve just eaten, it’s better to rinse with a non-acidic, alcohol-free mouthwash or simply with water, and wait about 30 minutes before brushing,” she says.
When choosing a mouthwash, Dr Deepa advises opting for an alcohol-free version. “Alcohol in mouthwash can dry out the mouth over time, which may lead to further oral health issues,” she notes. And while fluoride mouthwash can be beneficial, she adds that it should never replace fluoride toothpaste, which typically contains three times the amount of fluoride.
Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in water and toothpaste, plays a crucial role in preventing tooth decay. Thorough, twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste remains the most effective way to protect your teeth from decay, cavities, and more serious dental issues that could eventually lead to extraction.
