Do you rinse after brushing your teeth?

[kdonnel]

Sad to admit that I was 50+ years old when I learned I had been brushing wrong my entire life.

How did no one teach me that ideally you are not supposed rinse at all after brushing and if you must you should use just a tiny amount of water?

I had parents, I regularly visit the dentist. No one told me.

I talked to my wife, also a rinser, and my kids, both knew not to rinse.

How!?!?!?!?!?!!?

For 50+ years I have been washing away the fluoride with a very thorough rinse.

 

[soccerdad72]

Yes, I rinse.

 

[Moliphino]

I do. I know I'm not supposed to (learned fairly recently), but I still do it anyway. I usually take my morning pills directly after brushing my teeth.

 

[Mizzoufan]

If never heard your not supposed to rinse

 

[HannaBelle]

I rinse.

Now I need to go home and read the toothpaste tube instructions...

 

[Imzadi]

Eww! I rinse. I'm not swallowing the scum and residue I just brushed off. Especially in the morning.

Now, I do not rinse after using mouthwash. And I use Listerine, so it can still burn in my mouth. But, I figure that's a good thing, to counteract bacteria growing back in my mouth.

 

[georgina]

Sad to admit that I was 50+ years old when I learned I had been brushing wrong my entire life.

How did no one teach me that ideally you are not supposed rinse at all after brushing and if you must you should use just a tiny amount of water?

I had parents, I regularly visit the dentist. No one told me.

I talked to my wife, also a rinser, and my kids, both knew not to rinse.

How!?!?!?!?!?!!?

For 50+ years I have been washing away the fluoride with a very thorough rinse.

I just read that recently, and I stopped rinsing after I brush in the morning. I rinse a bit in the evening because I also floss then.

Eww! I rinse. I'm not swallowing the scum and residue I just brushed off. Especially in the morning.

Now, I do not rinse after using mouthwash. And I use Listerine, so it can still burn in my mouth. But, I figure that's a good thing, to counteract bacteria growing back in my mouth.

That's what spitting is for! No need to swallow.

 

[Turn the Page]

I do not but that's because I use prescription strength high flouride toothpaste I get from the dentist and they told me when I started using it not to rinse.

 

[Genie+]

I rinse. I also start with a large amount of toothpaste. DH makes fun of me lol.

The best thing we learned in school was how to properly brush at a 45 degree angle. Genetically my family seems to have weak teeth. But I think it’s because of what I leaned in school that gums always get rave reviews at the dentist Hygienists remarking how there’s no surprisingly no plaque build up. Big old squirt of Arm & Hammer every time! And I don’t care what anyone says - go ahead and brush your teeth in the shower. Just clean up after yourself.

 

[_19disnA]

News to me that you shouldn't rinse after brushing. I thought that toothpaste shouldn't be swallowed? Always have rinsed after bushing.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Dentist says not to, it washes the toothpaste away. Same with mouth wash, don't mix it with brushing.

 

[Mle8308]

Rinse after! But put toothpaste on a dry toothbrush. Dentist recommended, not sure why and for whatever reason, I didn't ask!

 

[bluezy]

I don't rinse after brushing because I have a prescription toothpaste and the dentist told me specifically not to rinse after using it (and I seem to remember the packaging also indicating that). I sometimes rinse a few minutes *before* brushing if I've eaten something that has a lot of little particles (like Popcorn). I only use that toothpaste at night. The dentist did say that I should still rinse when I do a quick brush in the morning with a regular toothpaste.

My adult daughter uses a colored toothpaste (I believe it's red) because she doesn't like any mint flavors and needed to find a fruit or cinnamon flavored toothpaste. The dentist specifically told her to make sure she thoroughly rinses her mouth after brushing because colored toothpaste can cause staining of the teeth if it's not completely rinsed off.

 

[tvguy]

My dentist wrote a prescription for Chlordexidine Gluconate rinse to use after brushing. So I rinse after brushing, but not with water. The Chlordexidine Gluconate is supposed to help prevent gum disease.

​

 

[amcnj]

I stopped rinsing quite a number of years ago now. I don’t think any dental professional I visited ever told me that, instead I read about it on my own.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I brush twice a day and always rinse. I could not stand leaving the residue in my mouth. I still have all my teeth at 79 years, so I guess I haven't caused too much damage.

 

[CynBeth]

News to me that you shouldn't rinse after brushing. I thought that toothpaste shouldn't be swallowed? Always have rinsed after bushing.

Same here.

 

[AnnaS]

I know not to rinse but rinse after brushing.

 

[princesscinderella]

My dentist wrote a prescription for Chlordexidine Gluconate rinse to use after brushing. So I rinse after brushing, but not with water. The Chlordexidine Gluconate is supposed to help prevent gum disease.

​

Chlorihexidine Gluconate (peridex) should not be used as a mouthwash regularly, as it causes brown tooth staining. These stains can be removed by your hygienist when polishing the teeth at your cleaning. If you are using it to prevent gum disease it’s better to dip a very soft toothbrush in the mouthwash and gently massage your gums with it avoiding your teeth.

 

[tvguy]

Chlorihexidine Gluconate (peridex) should not be used as a mouthwash regularly, as it causes brown tooth staining. These stains can be removed by your hygienist when polishing the teeth at your cleaning. If you are using it to prevent gum disease it’s better to dip a very soft toothbrush in the mouthwash and gently massage your gums with it avoiding your teeth.

Been using it for 10 years with no issues. Dentist has been surprised that it has not been staining my teeth.