If you've been rinsing your mouth after every brush, now is the time to change that habit. According to dental experts, you should only spit the toothpaste out but not rinse your mouth every after brushing your teeth.
An article posted on Well+Good indicates that the old-school information was that doing so eliminates fluoride, which helps combat cavities and stops tooth decay. However, that so-called "fun knowledge" about oral hygiene and health is said to be a bit obsolete.
According to Las Vegas-based dentist Michaela Tozzi, DMD, doing a quick rinse after brushing teeth is undoubtedly okay, and it can, in fact, be really beneficial.
"It is a good idea to do so," the dentist who also specializes in oral hygiene and cosmetic dentistry added since there is "bacteria in the toothpaste after brushing."
Dental experts say we should only spit the toothpaste out but not rinse our mouth every after brushing our teeth.
30-Second Rinse
Dr. Tozzi explained, we rinse long enough to ensure "there's no residue remaining" in our mouth. Water is fine, she added, but if we opt for a mouthwash, the dentist recommended using a non-alcohol based rinse.
After a 30-second rinse, she advised to spit it out, adding, "FYI, there's no need" for a second rinse with water if we're using mouthwash as most bacteria have already been manually eliminated using the toothbrush and toothpaste.
There's one exception, though, she emphasized.
When using toothpaste for therapeutic purposes, like fluoride for sensitivity and strength of enamel, Tozzi said, we will want to do things differently.
If this is the case, the dentist elaborated, our routine needs to be in this order: "brush teeth, rinse, spit per usual." Then, using a finger, apply the toothpaste topically, and spit.
The expert also advised that the same routine should be done when using a calcium-based toothpaste for weakened and demineralized enamel.
Certainly, said Dr. Tozzi, we still gain the benefits of rinsing while guaranteeing too, we're still getting full benefits from the fluoride.
Spit Out the Toothpaste, but Don't Rinse the Mouth
In October 2019, Dr. Chhaya Chauhan said, via the Electric Teeth's YouTube video, "when brushing teeth with toothpaste, be sure to spit it out your toothpaste but not to rinse your mouth off to it" as the toothpaste has to have contact with the tooth over a long period for it to work and for the chemicals, the toothpaste contains to have the benefits.
Dr. Chauhan also explained, when we rinse our mouth every after use of toothpaste, we are removing all fluoride, and we are removing the "all the goodness of the toothpaste" away from our mouth.
The dentist also recommended a 30-minuted interval between brushing and eating or drinking anything. This way, she said, we're getting the best chance of the toothpaste having a good effect on our teeth.
Concerning the recommendation of not rinsing the mouth after brushing, a study conducted in the United Kingdom showed, 62 percent of respondents were rinsing their mouth out after brushing their teeth-a practice against the recommendation of leading dental organizations in the UK, the Oral Health Foundation and the National Health Service.
Specifically, according to these organizations, one should not rinse after brushing teeth because, according to the Oral Health Foundation's CEO, Dr. Nigel Carter, rinsing the mouth with water is "very bad for the teeth as it washes away the protective fluoride left behind brushing."
READ NEXT: WHO Calls for Delaying Dental Routine Check-Ups Until COVID-19 Transmission Rates Drop
Check out more news and information on Oral Health Care on Science Times.