SHOULD YOU HACK YOUR TOOTHPASTE & MOUTHWASH?
The have-a-go dental heroes of social media are back with some new tricks – hacking your toothpaste and/or mouthwash! We looked into this new trend and have some urgent advice for anyone considering it.
Spoiler alert: it’s not a good idea.
What is the toothpaste hack?
Old toothpaste tubes look messy, occasionally leak and can be tough to operate for kids and those with mobility problems in their hands. The latest “hack” is to squeeze all your toothpaste into a pump dispenser to make it easy to squirt out and less likely to leak. As a bonus, it does also look neater than a half empty tube next to your sink.
Why hacking your toothpaste tube is a bad idea
Toothpaste is UV-reactive which means it reacts in the presence of light, explaining why it never comes in a see-through package and always has a tight lid. It’s only supposed to see light just before you start brushing. Squirting it into a pump dispenser will expose it to light early and make it far less effective when you come to brush your teeth.
If that wasn’t bad enough, opening your toothpaste early also causes the preservative ingredients to break down faster. Once they fall below a certain level there’s a real risk of bacterial and fungal growth inside the container, yuck. Should you repackage your toothpaste? No.
What is the mouthwash hack?
Rather than using mouthwash and toothpaste as separate parts of the dental routine, some TikTokers are brushing with a combination of mouthwash and toothpaste to kill two birds with one stone. This is fantastic way to ruin your toothpaste and waste your mouthwash.
Why you shouldn’t hack your mouthwash
Toothpaste and mouthwash do different jobs. Toothpaste contains much more fluoride and stronger cleaning ingredients than even very strong mouthwash, mixing the two is effectively watering down your toothpaste. Should you mix toothpaste and mouthwash? No.
When to use mouthwash?
As toothpaste is so much stronger than mouthwash, you should avoid rinsing it off after brushing. Instead, your mouthwash is best used between brushes, after a meal/snack or when you need a mouth refresher. Don’t waste your money using mouthwash as a toothpaste mixer.
Bonus: How to hack your water flosser
If you want a dental hack that actually works, try this… Pop a couple of Dr Denti Mouthwash Tablets in the water tank for your water flosser or Waterpik. Turns out water flossing with mouthwash is a great way to help keep your teeth in top condition and it also keeps your flosser clean and smelling fresh!
Using mouthwash to protect against Covid-19
Some mouthwashes, like our MGS Mouthwash Tablets, are effective killers of Coronavirus. While they’re unlikely to stop all viral particles getting through, they can make your mouth inhospitable to the virus. This could lower your viral load and make you less likely to get infected, suffer harsh symptoms or pass the virus on to others.
Where to buy MGS Mouthwash Tablets
Widely used in hospitals and dental practices, these are also accessible to the public as part of the Dr Denti home-use range. Dr Denti products are available in pharmacies and general stores as well as through online retailers. MGS Mouthwash Tablets are certified as 99.9% effective against enveloped viruses, including Covid-19. For more information on where to buy them, please contact us at info@gapdental.com or call us on 01474 560 618.