When it comes to our oral health routines, the basics are pretty simple: brush and floss twice a day, go for regular cleanings, avoid damaging foods and beverages, you know the drill. But, have you ever considered that maybe those simple smile staples we’ve long abided by might be more complex?
Last month, I got to sit down with the experts behind the revolutionary oral health brand Made by Dentists to talk all things smile care. I didn’t expect to leave questioning everything I thought I knew about dental care, but I did. In one of our conversations, it came up that you’re not supposed to rinse your mouth after you brush your teeth. While some nodded in agreement, I felt absolutely flabbergasted. Have I been brushing my teeth wrong all these years? Why aren’t you supposed to rinse after you brush? Is anything real? If you are also asking yourself these questions, keep reading. Ahead, expert dentists walk us through the common oral health misconception.
Featured Experts
- Dr. Lisa Creaven is the co-founder of Made by Dentists
- Nargiz Schmidt, DDS is a cosmetic dentist in New York
Should you rinse after you brush your teeth?
When I think about my daily dental care routine, it goes something like this: floss, rinse, brush and rinse. But, as I learned recently, that last step might do more harm than good. So, should you be rinsing after you brush your teeth? The short answer: nope. “Not rinsing your mouth after brushing your teeth allows fluoride from the toothpaste to remain on your teeth longer, enhancing its protective benefits against cavities and decay,” explains Dr. Schmidt. “This practice helps maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth and promotes better saliva interaction with your teeth.”
Dr. Creaven agrees, adding that “The fluoride in your toothpaste takes time to be effective,” meaning that “Rinsing after brushing rinses away the active ingredients in your toothpaste reducing its effectiveness. Leaving a fluoride toothpaste on your teeth after brushing can reduce your risk of getting a cavity up to 25 percent.”
Why do people rinse after they brush?
So, if the science behind not rinsing is so profound, why are so many people—myself included—unaware of the teeth-saving practice? According to Dr. Schmidt, “Many people are unaware of this advice due to traditional habits, conflicting messages from various sources and insufficient emphasis in dental education. Raising awareness about this simple practice could significantly improve oral health for many individuals.”
Dr. Creaven emphasizes Dr. Schmidt’s point, explaining “I think we have seen so much advertising showing people rinsing after brushing so we have just assumed that that’s how it’s done.” So much so, in fact, that Dr. Creaven theorizes the masses have begun to associate brushing teeth with habits like washing hands or shampooing hair in which a rinse is necessary. Instead, Dr. Creaven likens the teeth brushing experience to that of applying a serum, emphasizing the importance of letting the product sit on your teeth rather than rinsing it away.
