Should I Rinse My Mouth After Brushing My Teeth?

One of the biggest pillars of maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile is consistent oral hygiene, which entails brushing and flossing every single day. However, one question that often pops up concerning this habit is whether or not you’re supposed to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. Is it better to rinse out all of the excess toothpaste, or would that spell bad news for your oral health? Here’s more from your trusted dentist about the pros and cons of the habit so that you can make sure you’re doing what’s best for your smile!

The Benefits of Rinsing After Brushing

There are certainly benefits to rinsing your mouth after brushing; not to mention, it gets that often-strong taste of toothpaste out of your mouth! But here are a few practical benefits worth considering:

• It stimulates your mouth’s flow of saliva, which helps to wash away excess bacteria that remain lingering after brushing.
• It greatly reduces the risk of swallowing toothpaste by accident.
• It lessens the intensity and aftertaste of certain hygiene products.

Why You Might Not Want to Rinse After Brushing

However, if you’re rinsing your mouth immediately after brushing, you’re washing away the ingredient that is meant to help you—fluoride! This naturally occurring mineral is found in many of the things we eat, the water that we drink, and the products we use to brush our teeth, and ideally, you want to give the fluoride in toothpaste the opportunity to sit on your teeth for a few minutes to fully maximize its potential.

Even using mouthwash after brushing can wash away much of the heavily concentrated fluoride from your toothpaste; the U.K.’s Oral Health Foundation recommends that instead of rinsing your mouth after brushing, simply spit out any excess toothpaste or saliva.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that there’s no definitive answer here; although it’s perfectly safe to skip rinsing, as the fluoride from toothpaste isn’t potent enough to harm you unless ingested frequently. Usually, this small amount is harmless, but sometimes symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and fluorosis can occur. In any case, being aware of the pros and cons of the habit can lead you to make an informed decision that doesn’t just benefit your oral health, but also has you feeling great about your pearly whites!

About the Practice

The talented team at West Hartford Dental Group is excited to offer families in the West Hartford, CT community an exceptional level of dental care. Under the leadership of Dr. Ukti D. Phadnis, the practice is thrilled to provide patients with a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services geared toward the improvement of oral health. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to schedule an appointment, you can contact the practice online or by phone for further assistance. Telephone: (860) 236-4249.