Joe Yates
Rinsing your mouth out with water after brushing your teeth is something most of us do, but experts state it could be causing more harm than good.
It was a habit that I practised for years, but fortunately I've managed to shake it on the instruction of my dentist - although I still haven't got around to flossing yet, oops!
But seriously, who has got time for that? I'm sure there'll be a fair few people reading this in disgust - it's just too fiddly for me so takes much too long.
Anyway, there's actually a surprising reason why you shouldn't rinse your mouth out after brushing your pearly whites.
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As we've previously reported, sticking your head under the tap after brushing your teeth is a big no-no, as Canadian Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh, the owner of Inglewood Family Dental, in Calgary, explained to the New York Post.
"Once you have finished brushing your teeth, you should spit out any residual toothpaste,” Ravanbakhsh explained.
"By rinsing your mouth with water immediately after brushing, you wash away the fluoride, which is there to help prevent things like tooth decay."
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that was first added to public water in the US back in the 1940s for oral health reasons, and is known to reduce cavities and tooth decay.
It's so good in fact, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider water fluoridation 'one of the 20th century's greatest public health achievements'.
While Scottish dentists Clement Seeballuck and Nicola Innes, both from the University of Dundee, explained in an article for The Conversation why it is important not to spit out fluoride.
"At night, you produce less saliva than during the day. Because of this, your teeth have less protection from saliva and are more vulnerable to acid attacks," they penned.
"That’s why it’s important to remove food from your teeth before bed so plaque bacteria can’t feast overnight. Don’t eat or drink anything except water after brushing at night. This also gives fluoride the longest opportunity to work.
"Once you’ve brushed, don’t rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash – you’re washing away the fluoride! This can be a difficult habit to break, but can reduce tooth decay by up to 25 percent."
So there we are, you've been warned!
Fortunately, it's not a hard habit to get into, it's just remembering to not put your mouth under the tap while you're half asleep in the first few days.