It’s not a good idea to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. That’s because you will flush away the concentrated fluoride that you’ve just applied with toothpaste, say experts.
According to HuffPost, the National Health Services in the UK says rinsing with water or mouthwash will “wash away the concentrated fluoride left on your teeth.” You may want to wait around 20 minutes after brushing your teeth to use an oral rinse, especially if it contains alcohol or doesn’t contain fluoride.
Mouthwash is typically used to freshen your breath, and most formulas contain alcohol. If you apply mouthwash without fluoride directly after brushing with fluoride toothpaste, you could be rinsing protection off your tooth enamel, which could do more harm than good, says Healthline. Fluoride helps teeth most when it’s applied directly to your teeth.
Fluoride that stays put on your teeth for several minutes provides the greatest benefit. However, if you are using a mouthwash that contains enamel-building ingredients, such as fluoride, it may keep fluoride levels elevated in the mouth after brushing. Ask your dentists for recommendations.
Rinsing your mouth with water isn’t a good idea for those who are prone to tooth decay. Skipping the rinse and spitting out the toothpaste is better, because it leaves a fluoride coating on your teeth to help protect against cavities while preventing the ingestion of too much fluoride. Leave the fluoride on your teeth and try to avoid eating or drinking for 10 minutes or more after brushing is done.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you floss once a day to remove food particles and plaque, the sticky film on your teeth that can lead to cavities and gum disease. A 2018 study found that brushing after flossing, instead of rinsing, is the best way to get rid of the plaque after flossing. The study participants were able to remove loose bacteria with brushing and retain elevated levels of fluoride on the teeth.
The National Health Services suggests that adults use a toothpaste with at least 1,350 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride, and children should use a product with 1,000 ppm of fluoride. Brush for two minutes at least twice daily especially before you go to bed and on one other occasion every day. The ADA now recommends that children under the age of three can use fluoride toothpaste as soon as they get their first tooth, but suggest that the child’s guardian apply a very small amount — the size of a grain of rice ─ of toothpaste on the brush.