Using mouthwash twice a day and swishing it around in the mouth increases the risk of serious health issues in the future.

Rajan added: “Some early evidence suggesting that chronic mouthwash use has been linked, from a correlation point of view, to increasing rates of colorectal cancers because of that disrupted oral microbiome.”

In addition, regular use of alcohol-based mouthwash can lead to several problems, such as a burning sensation in the mouth, mucosal pain, softening of composite fillings, teeth staining, enamel erosion, and ulcers.

Whitney DiFoggio, an American dental hygienist, also joined the podcast and shared her thoughts on mouthwash use.

She mentioned: “You don’t need a mouthwash. Manually brushing the plaque and debris from your teeth with a toothbrush, using something to clean between your teeth, and ensuring you cover the fronts, backs, tops, and bottoms is what you need.”

It is recommended to avoid using mouthwash immediately after brushing your teeth, as it can rinse away the fluoride from the toothpaste you just applied.

If you do use mouthwash, it’s better to do so after a meal, like after lunch. You should also wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking.