# Mouthwash and Brushing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 15, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506 "2001-05-15T13:26:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506/1 "2001-05-15T13:26:17Z")
So when are you supposed to use a mouthwash like listerine? Are you supposed to use it right after brushing? Right before? Are you suppossed to use it by itself at other points in the day when you are not going to brush? If so, are you just blowing off brushing? Would it be better to always brush instead whenever you were going to rinse? Is mouthwash just there because people are lazy and won’t do the additional brushing, so they figure that rinsing is better than nothing? Or is mouthwash really an important part of you dental hygene? I need to know… ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506/2 "2001-05-15T13:29:26Z")
> [@](#): > > I need to know… Yeah, me too. 😃 I use mouthwash after brushing to help get any detritus out that my regular rinse may have missed. But I can see the argument for using it before to start working on the plaque so the brush can do it’s job better. I think you’re looking for a trip to IMHO on this one, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Freedom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Freedom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freedom)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506/3 "2001-05-15T13:37:35Z")
No way. I just know that there is some dentist or oral hygenist out there who will come in here and throw down the definitive answer. The worst case scenario I can see is that we get 3 out 4 dentists agreeing and that 1 stubborn dentist gets the whole thread tossed to GD. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506/4 "2001-05-15T15:40:49Z")
According to [http://www.oral-care.com/conaffairs/oralfaq.html#MOUTHWASH](http://www.oral-care.com/conaffairs/oralfaq.html#MOUTHWASH), after brushing is preferred. IANAD/OH, but this makes sense to me. You brush to get off what you can and then mouthwash to attack bacteria between teeth. I’m not sure Listerine removes plaque that’s already there, but prevents new. After looking up these sites, I’m now reeling from the idea that a proper brushing should take 3 minutes. I must be doing something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506/5 "2001-05-15T15:57:21Z")
Well, the [ADA](http://www.ada.org/public/faq/breath.html) has a pretty dim view of over-the-counter mouthwashes, so I don’t think you’ll get much of an answer from them: > [@](#): > > Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouthrinse. A fluoride mouthrinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506/6 "2001-05-15T23:56:08Z")
As for timing, I don’t remember where I read it - it might have been here, even. Or else on the label on my bottle of Listerine. But anyway, it said that you should technically wait for 30 minutes after brushing before rinsing to minimize interaction between the toothpaste and the mouthwash. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouthwash-and-brushing/65506/7 "2001-05-16T01:46:12Z")
Listerine is an after-brushing rinse, and it has been approved by the ADA as such since it contains alcohol which kills germs. There are pre-brushing rinses, too, such as Plaque, etc. Three minutes of brushing is what I was taught in grammar school, but no with automatic brushes running for only two minutes timed, this has been changed recently to two minutes. Two minutes is still a long time to brush your teeth, but brushing should not be a slapdash thing. Hi, Smeghead. What no attempt at poetry?