RM, you’ll be the perfect test case then!!!
I had Perplexity write it all out for you (pasted below)
While she says you won’t need to floss, if you have food stuck in your teeth, by all means have at it. She says if you do, at least do it after you brush so you are pushing toothpaste up there. I think the brushes help, but it’s also about all the swishing going on in 3 steps that helps replace flossing.
I’d say use the flosser and skip the irrigator for now.
I’ll list more tidbits…
Do make sure you are not only looking for the correct version of crest, but all the products
Swish with closys for 60 seconds.
Don’t do a final mouth rinse with water… in fact, there is no time you rinse with water.
You don’t have to use her recommended toothbrush, but it’s cheap and I think you’ll love it, so just get it 
If you find the listerine burns, she says don’t force it and just spit it out when you have to… and over time you’lll find you can tolerate longer… I noticed that.
I happen to prefer xyloburst brand cinnamon mints (didn’t like their lemon and I don’t care for her cinnamon, fwiw). And these would be after eating to help keep plaque from forming.
Mouth rest…don’t sip and eat all day… (I can’t do this part and probably need therapy)
Oh, she said if you have plaque on your teeth, it might start to turn dark before it gets better… she said if you have a stain you want to tackle, you could brush that area with a little xylitol. I didn’t have that issue but thought oh in that case I’ll brush with xylitol and maybe it will naturally whiten my teeth… based on how rough my teeth felt for a few days, I questioned the wisdom of doing that again. I feared I was causing damage… but I dunno.
Dr. Ellie Phillips’ protocol (“Complete Mouth Care System”) is a 5‑minute, twice‑daily sequence using specific products plus daily xylitol to shift biofilm, neutralize acids, and promote remineralization. Correct products, order, and timing are considered critical for the synergy she describes.[drellie]
Core goals and principles
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Neutralize mouth acidity and protect enamel before any brushing.[drellie]
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Modulate rather than sterilize the oral biofilm, mainly with frequent xylitol.[drellie]
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Remineralize with sodium fluoride while maximizing contact time.[gentleartofdentistry]
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Maintain an alkaline, saliva-rich environment between routines using xylitol mints/gum.[drellie]
Daily xylitol use (throughout the day)
This is considered “step 0” and runs in the background all day.[drellie]
- Product: Xylitol mints or gum (she promotes Zellie’s, but emphasizes any pure xylitol source).[drellie]
- Dose: Aim for about 6–10 g xylitol per day, typically ~2 small mints after every meal, snack, or drink, totaling ~12 mints/day.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Pattern: Small, frequent exposures; chew or dissolve after each eating/drinking episode, then avoid food/drink for ≥30 minutes to let pH rise and biofilm composition shift.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Claimed effects:
- Raises salivary pH and reduces time spent in demineralizing acidity.[drellie]
- Loosens plaque and makes it easier for rinses to penetrate.[drellie]
- Selectively reduces cariogenic organisms (e.g., S. mutans) while supporting a more favorable microbiome, rather than killing everything like strong antiseptics.[drellie]
Twice‑daily 5‑minute sequence
Used morning (after breakfast) and night (last thing before bed). At night, no food or drink afterward.[gentleartofdentistry]
Step 1 – Pre‑rinse with CloSYS
- Product: CloSYS Ultra Sensitive Alcohol‑Free Rinse (stabilized chlorine dioxide, pH‑neutral).[drellie]
- How:
- Use as a “pre‑rinse” before brushing; swish or simply let it bathe all tooth and gum surfaces for about 60 seconds.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Do not rinse with water afterward.[drellie]
- Rationale:
- Neutralizes acidic saliva to protect enamel before mechanical brushing.[drellie]
- Chlorine dioxide reacts with saliva to generate oxygen and disrupt anaerobic and cariogenic bacteria in plaque and periodontal pockets.[gentleartofdentistry]
Step 2 – Brush with Crest Cavity Protection
- Product: Crest Cavity Protection Regular Paste (sodium fluoride, not whitening or tartar‑control variants).[drellie]
- Brush: She favors a brush firm enough to massage gums effectively, with separate AM and PM brushes that dry 24 hours between uses.[drellie]
- How:
- Wet brush, apply a pea‑sized amount, then brush teeth and along gumlines, focusing on gentle but thorough gum massage.[drellie]
- Purpose is less “scrubbing clean” and more stimulating gingival blood flow and delivering fluoride.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Rationale:
- Sodium fluoride in Crest supports remineralization once the environment is neutral from the CloSYS step.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Gum massage improves circulation and aids healing of gingivitis and shallow periodontal issues.[drellie]
Step 3 – Floss with fluoride left on
- Timing: Directly after brushing, without rinsing off toothpaste.[drellie]
- How:
- Floss while Crest paste is still on teeth, working the fluoride lather between contacts to expose interproximal surfaces.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Rationale:
- Increases contact of sodium fluoride with interproximal enamel and root surfaces.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Treats flossing as a way to deliver agents, not just mechanically remove debris.
Step 4 – LISTERINE as “liquid floss”
- Product: LISTERINE ORIGINAL or COOL MINT (classic essential‑oil formula, not zero‑alcohol or whitening formulations).[drellie]
- How:
- Use after brushing/flossing; swish vigorously for ~30 seconds, forcing it between teeth like “liquid floss”.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Rationale:
- Essential oils penetrate biofilm and target immature S. mutans and other pathogens without stripping the entire biofilm.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Adds antimicrobial action precisely when plaque is most disrupted by brushing and floss.
Step 5 – Final fluoride rinse (ACT or similar)
- Product: Alcohol‑free fluoride rinse, often specified as ACT Anticavity (NaF).[drellie]
- How:
- Rinse for about 60 seconds, then spit; do not rinse with water afterward.[drellie]
- At night, do not eat or drink afterward so fluoride can act undisturbed.[gentleartofdentistry]
- Rationale:
- Provides a low‑dose fluoride bath to promote remineralization and protect exposed root surfaces and enamel.[drellie]
- Acts synergistically with earlier neutralization and biofilm modulation to enhance mineral uptake from saliva.[drellie]
Intended outcomes and usage notes
- With consistent use (plus xylitol for 3–6+ months), she claims:
- Reduced plaque accumulation, fewer cavities, and arrested/early reversal of small lesions.[drellie]
- Healing or improvement of gingivitis and shallow periodontal pockets.[drellie]
- Less sensitivity and better comfort in dry mouth by reducing acid exposure and supporting a healthier microbiome.[drellie]
- Frequency: Twice daily; more is not needed if sequence and xylitol use are followed.[drellie]
- Population: Designed for adults and older children with permanent teeth; children should be supervised until they can rinse and spit reliably.[drellie]
If you want, a follow‑up can walk through how this protocol interacts with specific concerns like root caries, implants, or vegan/dry‑mouth contexts and where you may or may not want to diverge from her exact product list.
