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Comment by jayd16 | Hacker News Reader

I thought the ideal order was brush, floss, mouthwash.

No, mouthwash after brushing removes the fluoride that the toothpaste has just deposited. Similarly, avoid rinsing after brushing.

There's not really a 'good' time to use mouthwash. Maybe an hour or more after a meal, if you're in a rush - but no sooner than that, as the tooth enamel will still be softened by the food.

Even with flouride mouthwash? You're saying the paste/gel is physically more capable of depositing flouride or something?

For whatever reason, (in the US) mouthwash contains far less fluoride than toothpaste.

So, mouthwash before toothpaste. Or do as I do, and use mouthwash intermittently when in the bathroom, to boost the time there is fresh fluoride inhibiting bacteria on my teeth and gums.

Most importantly, don't rinse after either - same idea.

Using mouthwash every time is not ideal because most mouthwashes disrupt your oral microbiome which will result in undesired side-effects like teeth staining etc.

I've heard this before, yet my mouth remains... unaffected.

What does an "oral microbiome" even mean? I understand what it means in the literal sense, but would a person's mouth be dysfunctional if it were hypothetically devoid of microbes? Is there an accepted healthy oral microbiome composition?

You can get oral probiotics, like lactibiane buccodental. These healthy bacteria compete with harmful bacteria that causes cavities and gum disease.

You're saying we can make good toothpaste but we can't make good mouthwash?

Citation required.

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