This common mouthwash mistake can ruin your teeth, dentist warns

Problems with teethresult in bad breath, pain in your mouth, and high dentist bills. Thankfully, most of the time they can be avoided with the right dental hygiene.

Dr Khaled Kasem, the chief orthodontist at Impress, has shared expert tips about mouthwash, brushing and flossing in a bid to help people keep their teeth healthy and save money amid the cost of living crisis.

Here is how to brush your teeth correctly

Dr Kasem claims that the best way to begin the teeth cleaning process is with dental floss, to remove any plaque you have between the teeth.

Next, you move on to brushing your teeth, with either a regular or electric toothbrush before finally using some mouthwash.

While most people might commonly use mouthwash in the morning after brushing their teeth to have a fresh breath all day, the expert claims this isn't actually the best time to reach for the bottle.

The evening is the most helpful time for mouthwash - but there's one big mistake many people make after using it.

Avoid this mistake when using mouthwash

Dr Kasem strongly recommends using mouthwash as part of your routine before going to sleep and making sure you do not rinse with water after this. This way it can keep working during the whole night.

Brush your teeth twice a day

While you might only use mouthwash once a day, it's crucial to always brush your teeth twice a day for a minimum of two minutes and spend more time brushing them at night, as this way the fluoride will keep working while you're asleep.

Dr Kasem advises using fluoride toothpaste with a concentration depending on your age. If you have teeth sensitivity, use hypersensitive toothpaste to lower the impact of brushing.

Sources used:

- Mirror: 'Dentist shares biggest mouthwash mistake to avoid - and best time to use it'