Brushing your teeth might seem like a simple task you do twice a day, especially if you have an electric toothbrush that does most of the work for you. You put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the bristles, brush your teeth for two minutes, spit and rinse out your mouth, right? Well, you may want to skip that last step to maximize your toothpaste's benefits.
To determine whether rinsing after brushing your teeth is best for your dental hygiene, we consulted dentists, including one who works with the American Dental Association (ADA), for their expert advice.
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Should you stop rinsing after brushing your teeth?
When you rinse with water after brushing your teeth, you're washing away the fluoride and active ingredients from your toothpaste, says Dr. Whitney White, practice owner at Aspen Dental. "Brush, spit and do not rinse with water," she advises.
If you've been rinsing all this time, don't panic. Dr. Roopali Kulkarni, a consumer advisor spokesperson for the ADA, says that if you’re accustomed to rinsing your mouth immediately after brushing, there's no need for concern. As long as you brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss between your teeth once daily, you're all good.
However, Kulkarni agrees with White: Not rinsing after brushing allows the fluoride to fully do its job in strengthening tooth enamel.
But what about rinsing with mouthwash?
While some people rinse with water after brushing, others use mouthwash. Is there a difference when it comes to the benefits you could receive from not rinsing immediately, especially if your mouthwash contains fluoride like your toothpaste?
According to Kulkarni, the same applies, even if you use a fluoride mouthwash. "It's best to still wait to rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash after brushing, as mouthwash typically contains a lower amount of fluoride compared to your fluoride toothpaste."
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