When it comes to oral health, patients frequently ask us the same questions during consultations. These dental FAQs reflect genuine concerns about daily oral care routines, and frankly, there’s quite a bit of misinformation circulating online.
At The Briars Dental Centre in Newbury, we believe in providing transparent, evidence-based answers to help you make informed decisions about your oral health. Your smile means everything to us, and part of achieving your dental goals involves understanding the facts behind common oral care practices.
Let’s address three of the most frequently asked dental FAQs that we encounter in our practice.
The short answer is: you don’t need to use mouthwash, but if you want to, there are some important considerations to ensure you’re doing it correctly.
Here’s where many people go wrong: never use mouthwash immediately after brushing your teeth. This is one of the most common mistakes we see, and it’s actually extremely counterproductive to your oral health.
When you brush with fluoride toothpaste, you leave a protective coating of fluoride on your teeth. Rinsing with mouthwash immediately afterwards washes away this beneficial fluoride before it has had time to work effectively.
The fluoride concentration in most mouthwashes is significantly lower than what you’ll find in toothpaste:
By rinsing immediately after brushing, you’re essentially diluting the higher concentration of fluoride from your toothpaste with a weaker solution.
We strongly recommend avoiding mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Alcohol-based mouthwashes can:
Whilst medicated mouthwashes can be beneficial for specific conditions, long-term use requires careful consideration. Some medicated mouthwashes contain ingredients such as chlorhexidine, which can cause:
These products are typically prescribed for short-term use (usually 1-2 weeks) to address acute gum inflammation or following certain dental procedures.
Mouthwash can be a useful addition to your routine when:
With the rise of “natural” oral care products on social media, this has become one of our most frequently asked dental FAQs. The evidence overwhelmingly supports the use of fluoride toothpaste for preventing tooth decay.
Fluoride works through a process called remineralisation. When bacteria in your mouth produce acid (from consuming sugars and starches), this acid attacks your tooth enamel. Fluoride helps to:
We’ve noticed an increase in patients asking about fluoride-free toothpastes, often influenced by social media content that questions fluoride safety. However, the scientific consensus, supported by organisations including:
…all confirm that fluoride toothpaste is both safe and effective when used as directed. We’ll be doing more dental FAQs on social media soon, so keep an eye out!
Whilst fluoride-free toothpastes may clean your teeth and freshen your breath, they don’t provide the proven cavity-prevention benefits of fluoride. Some alternatives claim to use:
However, the evidence supporting these ingredients for cavity prevention is far less robust than the decades of research supporting fluoride.
There are rare instances where fluoride-free toothpaste might be recommended:
For the vast majority of patients, fluoride toothpaste remains the gold standard for cavity prevention.
We recommend using a fluoride toothpaste with at least 1,450 ppm fluoride for adults and children over 6 years. For children below 6, use a smear of toothpaste with 1,000-1,450 ppm fluoride.
This question often comes with a wry smile and the suggestion that dental professionals must have shares in the floss industry! It’s one of the most common dental FAQs we encounter, and we understand the scepticism. We also don’t have shares, we promise.
Daily flossing is genuinely important, and here’s why: your toothbrush simply cannot reach the surfaces between your teeth. These interdental spaces represent about 35% of your total tooth surface area.
When you don’t clean between your teeth:
Research consistently shows that people who floss regularly have:
If traditional floss feels challenging, consider these alternatives:
Many patients struggle with flossing technique. Here are our tips:
As dental professionals, we don’t recommend flossing because we have financial interests in floss companies! We recommend it because we see the difference it makes to our patients’ oral health every day.
During your hygiene appointments, we can often identify patients who floss regularly versus those who don’t, simply by examining their gums and the amount of calculus present.
Based on decades of combined experience and the latest research, here are our evidence-based recommendations for these common dental FAQs:
Contact us if you experience:
Check out article about these symptoms here!
At The Briars Dental Centre, we combine evidence-based dentistry with personalised care. Our team of specialists and general dentists work together to provide comprehensive oral health solutions tailored to your individual needs.
These dental FAQs represent some of the most important questions about daily oral care. The key takeaways are:
Remember, every patient’s needs are unique. What works best for you may depend on your individual risk factors, oral health status, and personal preferences.
If you have questions about your oral care routine or would like personalised advice, we invite you to book a consultation with our team. Your smile means everything to us, and we’re here to help you achieve your dental goals.
For more information about our services, to ask your own dental FAQs, or to book an appointment, contact The Briars Dental Centre in Newbury, Berkshire.
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