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Why dentists say you shouldn't rinse after brushing

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Why dentists say you shouldn't rinse after brushing

#4
The tl;dr: If your toothpaste contains Flouride, it needs to stay on your teeth for 20-30 minutes in order to work properly. If you don't want to do that—or you don't have a toothpaste containing Flouride—you can followup the brushing with a Flouride-containing mouthwash, which you do not wash out.

This is what I do. I use a mouthwash with Flouride, and don't rinse my mouth for ~30 minutes after using it.

This reminds me of a change that my dentist's office made a few years ago: Apparently dental insurance (at least my plan) has added coverage for a Flouride treatment with every office visit, so they have me do a Flouride rinse—probably with a higher-concentration rinse—at the end of each visit.

Re: Why dentists say you shouldn't rinse after brushing

#5

The tl;dr: If your toothpaste contains Flouride, it needs to stay on your teeth for 20-30 minutes in order to work properly. If you don't want to do that—or you don't have a toothpaste containing Flouride—you can followup the brushing with a Flouride-containing mouthwash, which you do not wash out. This is what I do. I use a mouthwash with Flouride, and don't rinse my mouth for ~30 minutes after using it. This remind…

Is the don't-rinse advice still needed in areas where water is fluoridated, since that's what I'm rinsing with?

Re: Why dentists say you shouldn't rinse after brushing

#6

The tl;dr: If your toothpaste contains Flouride, it needs to stay on your teeth for 20-30 minutes in order to work properly. If you don't want to do that—or you don't have a toothpaste containing Flouride—you can followup the brushing with a Flouride-containing mouthwash, which you do not wash out. This is what I do. I use a mouthwash with Flouride, and don't rinse my mouth for ~30 minutes after using it. This remind…

Is the don't-rinse advice still needed in areas where water is fluoridated, since that's what I'm rinsing with?

My understanding is that fluoridation of municipal water supplies serves a different purpose than fluoride in toothpaste. The fluoride in the water supply is low concentration and is intended to cause teeth to develop with stronger cavity resistance, toothpaste is a much more superficial and immediate measure.

Re: Why dentists say you shouldn't rinse after brushing

#7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is the don't-rinse advice still needed in areas where water is fluoridated, since that's what I'm rinsing with?

My understanding is that fluoridation of municipal water supplies serves a different purpose than fluoride in toothpaste. The fluoride in the water supply is low concentration and is intended to cause teeth to develop with stronger cavity resistance, toothpaste is a much more superficial and immediate measure.

[flagged]

Re: Why dentists say you shouldn't rinse after brushing

#9
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that fluoridation of municipal water supplies serves a different purpose than fluoride in toothpaste. The fluoride in the water supply is low concentration and is intended to cause teeth to develop with stronger cavity resistance, toothpaste is a much more superficial and immediate measure.

[flagged]

I thought it was in the water to rot your mind! Wasn't there a link between flouride and lower IQ in children?

Re: Why dentists say you shouldn't rinse after brushing

#10

The tl;dr: If your toothpaste contains Flouride, it needs to stay on your teeth for 20-30 minutes in order to work properly. If you don't want to do that—or you don't have a toothpaste containing Flouride—you can followup the brushing with a Flouride-containing mouthwash, which you do not wash out. This is what I do. I use a mouthwash with Flouride, and don't rinse my mouth for ~30 minutes after using it. This remind…

I used to rinse with mouthwash after brushing but was told the toothpaste has a much higher concentration, so it's better to leave the toothpaste.
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