If you’re keeping up with proper dental hygiene practices, you’ve most likely gotten yourself into a routine every morning and evening that you try not to stray from. This should, at the very least, include brushing and flossing, and may also include other measures as suggested by a dental professional. One part that you might incorporate into this routine is rinsing your mouth out with water after you finish brushing. The point is to get that unpleasant toothpaste feeling out of your mouth, but what other purpose does it serve?

Believe it or not, the dental professionals at Hamilton Dental Association have found that not only is there no significant benefit to rinsing the toothpaste out with water after brushing, but it actually might nullify the effort you’ve made to clean your teeth. Most of the reasoning lies within the fluoride in your toothpaste and how it works on your teeth, which this process is believed to stunt.

When fluoride enters your mouth, it doesn’t always go to work right away. This is why when you come into our Mercer County offices for fluoride treatments, we recommend that you wait an extended period of time before eating, so that you teeth have time to fully incorporate the fluoride. Tooth brushing is a much shorter process than an in-office fluoride application, with less of the substance found in toothpaste. If you are immediately rinsing your mouth with water after brushing, you are not allowing the fluoride in your toothpaste become incorporated, therefore reducing its effectiveness.

Dental professionals have also speculated that there is a correlation between rinsing your mouth with water after brushing and avoiding cavities. The results have been inconclusive, as multiple studies have yielded different results.  

What is known is that brushing your teeth helps you not only maintain your smile, but also keeps out any harmful plaque, bacteria, and food particles. Allowing fluoride to be fully incorporated into the tooth structure will strengthen the enamel and aid in preventing frequent trips to the dentist’s office to remedy cavities and tooth decay. If you do need to make an appointment or schedule a fluoride treatment, Hamilton Dental Associates is taking appointments with our trained specialists and pediatric dentists in Hamilton, NJ. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and keep your teeth clean!