This is why you should not rinse after brushing your teeth

On June 9, 2024, 12:02 PM

Are you ready to make your daily dental routine even better? You know the steps: brush, rinse, and spit.

But what if we told you that rinsing after brushing might not be doing your teeth any favours? Yep, that’s right! The habit of rinsing with water could be washing away the very benefits you’re aiming to achieve.

Dr Sara Alhammadi, a dentist shared a post on Instagram mentioning, “We, as a dentist, tell you to not rinse after brushing your teeth. Yes, I know it is difficult”

Dr Niyati Arora, BDS, MDS (prosthodontist) at Krown Hub Dental Clinic, Pitampura said, “There are two schools of thought regarding this. The normal mindset is to rinse right after brushing. The reason behind this is that we do so because we are not supposed to swallow a high concentration of fluoride. There are some dental products that have fluoride levels above what is normally recommended for daily ingestion.”

There’s no consensus on whether you should rinse out your mouth with water after brushing your teeth, but not rinsing could benefit people more prone to tooth decay. The take-home message can be ‘To Spit, Not Rinse’, said Dr Arora.

How does leaving toothpaste on the teeth after brushing benefit dental health?

“Leaving toothpaste on teeth after brushing can help our dental health by basically providing it a longer period of action”, said Dr Arora.

In fluoride toothpaste, the longer action of fluoride on our teeth will prevent tooth decay. In the case of sensitivity toothpaste, leaving them on will help the ions in toothpaste to clog the tubules better, which helps to reduce the sensitivity at a faster rate, explained Dr Arora.

According to NHS UK, you should spit out the excess toothpaste after brushing and void rinsing as it’ll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.

There is enough evidence available to support the fact that rinsing immediately after brushing is not good for your oral health.

Dr Arora said, “When you brush your teeth without rinsing, toothpaste’s fluoride stays on them longer, protecting them against decay and sensitivity. It can support gum health in cases of gum disease by preserving a barrier that protects against microorganisms. As explained earlier, rinsing eliminates these advantages, possibly making gums and teeth more susceptible.”