Do you rinse your mouth after you brush? Why that's a bad idea...

If you rinse your mouth out with water after you brush your teeth – you’re doing it all wrong...

Dr. Phil Stemmer, from the Fresh Breath Center in London, says rinsing washes away the protective fluoride coating you just applied. The best routine is to drink a glass of water before you brush. Avoid using too much toothpaste on your brush and when you’re done, step away from the sink.

After you skip that post-brush rinse a few times, you should start to get used to it. If it just feels wrong, try rinsing with a fluoride rinse instead of water. It’s also a good idea to avoid eating or drinking anything for a half hour.