Dental Health

[SniffyHock]

I was reading a thread earlier (which I now can't find) about how you shouldn't rinse after brushing. Also, I read an article that you should brush your teeth before breakfast as if you have a smoothie, for example, brushing afterwards is bad.

Can someone please give us a definitive tooth care routine???

I've always made my DC brush their teeth after breakfast and before bed and they rinse. Is this wrong?

When DS has popcorn as a treat (bad I know) he brushes his teeth and when he rinses, loads of bits come out - should I really leave these.

We are going to the dentist so I know I can ask then but would really like to start making changes if I need to.

Have all the dental experts gone to bed?

you never rinse after brushing unless its with a mouth wash your dentist has recommended. As reguarding brushing before /after b/f. depends what you are eating.... my dh brushes before i brush after... we brush the kids teeth after... both of us are dentists!!! there is no real evedence either way however if you have an acidic b/f eg apple/orange juice brush before mouthwash after with a flouride containing mouthwash. ( not many m/w's have fluoride. eg flouriguard does) . if you have a sugery b/f eg most breakfast cereal jam brush after. hth

Thanks for that - I'm paranoid enough about DS's teeth as he has an underbite, I don't want to be brushing them incorrectly!

He had a real paddy this morning when I didn't let him rinse them. Seriously though, I'm not sure that this advice is clear to everyone.