It also contributes heavily to the formation of aphthous mouth ulcers. For anyone suffering them like I used to (which is to say “badly”): if this is the first time you’re hearing about it, look for tooth paste with no SLS. It doesn’t matter if the L is Lauryl or Laureth, that shit is drying out the mucous membranes in your mouth, making them more prone to damage, and thereby giving you ulcers. Kroger/King Soopers have a generic that’s SLS-free, but Sensodyne Pronamel is one that’s usually SLS-free if you can’t find a generic. If you have an ulcer right now:

• Crush up an aspirin to fine powder
• Dampen a cotton swab with some clean water
• Dip the swab in the aspirin powder so it makes a kind of paste
• Paint the paste on the ulcer with the swab

It’ll hurt like hell, but doing this daily will heal the wound in a few days instead of a few weeks.

As well, most people brush too hard; some of that “clean” feeling is coming from gum trauma from brushing too hard. Holding the toothbrush between forefinger and thumb limits the amount of pressure you can apply, reducing the risk of damaging your gums.

Finally, flossing gets the biofilm out from between your teeth; brushing gets it off the exposed surfaces; and peroxide-based mouthwash is a nuclear firestorm to scour the bacterial population. Do all three each night at least, and your breath will be better than anyone you know.