Should you Rinse Your Mouth After You Brush Your Teeth?
Posted on 7/23/2020 by Brandon Cooley
One of the many questions we hear in our office about oral hygiene is whether or not to rinse after brushing your teeth. It's probably safe to say that most people do rinse after brushing to rid their mouth of excess toothpaste. However, research suggests that rinsing after brushing may be counterproductive.
To Rinse or Not to Rinse
There are two primary standpoints regarding rinsing after brushing, one for and one against. Pro-rinsers will tell you that it's harmful to your stomach to ingest toothpaste. They will also claim that you don't want to swallow all of the bacteria removed from your teeth when brushing them.
The non-rinsers of the world argue that rinsing after brushing washes away all the remaining toothpaste, including the beneficial fluoride contained therein. They claim that by not rinsing, the fluoride has more time to do its job of protecting your teeth from decay.
What Does Science Say?
Dishearteningly, it seems that scientists don't fully agree on this matter either. While some studies conducted about factors related to the value of fluoride retention after brushing support the pro-rinsing argument, others support the non-rinsing one.
So which way should you go since both sides of the debate seem to have valid arguments?
Since rinsing after brushing does flush out beneficial fluoride that remineralizes your teeth, we believe that “spit don't rinse” is a good recommendation. This is especially true if you're prone to cavities from an excess of bacteria due to bad fillings or crowns, gum disease, overeating sugar or you simply have poor oral care habits.
Regardless of whether you rinse or not, it's important to brush your teeth for the recommended two minutes in order to maximize fluoride's positive effects on your oral health. We would be happy to answer any questions you have about your oral care habits, so contact our office today to schedule a consultation and exam.
One of the many questions we hear in our office about oral hygiene is whether or not to rinse after brushing your teeth. It's probably safe to say that most people do rinse after brushing to rid their mouth of excess toothpaste. However, research suggests that rinsing after brushing may be counterproductive.