How to get DP to stop rinsing after brushing teeth?!

[NewYearNewUserNameForMe]

I know I have no jurisdiction over DP's face, mouth and oral hygiene habits

But DP rinses out his mouth a lot after brushing his teeth every time. Twice a day, copious amounts of water. A few years ago, the dentist told me and DP that rinsing wasn't good at all. I stopped. DP just carried on.

His teeth are going yellow and they've got weird brown lines on them. I've no idea if its connected to rinsing but surely rinsing isn't helping things?

I tell him occasionally he shouldn't rinse but he either bats my comment away because I'm not a dentist (fair play), tells me to stop policing him (dramatic but fair play), or comes up with some excuse as to why he has to rinse that particular time (bullshit because he does it every bloody time).

So I went for the kill. One day when he complained that his teeth were yellow I said it was because he rinses after brushing. He had a huff, carried on rinsing and said he didn't actually care about how he looks anyway.

I may be blowing it out of proportion but I really worry about this and what it'll mean for his dental health long term.

I've no idea why I'm posting this, it's playing on my mind.

[ChickenyChick]

is this a thing???

I always rinse

[ZigZagIntoTheBlue]

I rinse because I hate the taste of leftover toothpaste in my mouth. My husband doesn't rinse, having heeded the dentist but his teeth are more stained than mine. I doubt the rinse/ no rinse makes THAT much difference, maybe he has more sugary drinks than you do 🤷‍♀️

[MaisWeee]

Of course you rinse?

[FlaskMaster]

Leave the poor bastard alone! Most people rinse after cleaning their teeth. Otherwise your breakfast tastes funny! Just totally drop the rinsing issue.
The yellow is another matter, you could book into tooth whitening, but only if he wants to.

[WestCovina]

I have been told this too. I don’t think it’s anything to do with staining though, it’s because it washes off the fluoride, and the fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay

[MaisWeee]

Tobacco, red wine, tea, coffe, not brushing with a whitening paste are all causes for staining. Rinsing is not one I've ever heard of.

[Palavah]

Surely if you rinse you end up with a load of toothpaste in your mouth?
The dentist gives you mouthwash to rinse with!
Rinsing after brushing doesn't make your teeth yellow. Smoking, tea, coffee, and some foodstuffs make your teeth yellow.
If you're worried just buy him some mouthwash. But it's up to him if he uses it.

[MaisWeee]

If you don't rinse, surely you're left with a mouthful of saliva mixed with toothpaste?

[PlumsGalore]

I rinse with mouthwash, I assume that’s ok? Or maybe not.

[WestCovina]

I don’t rinse. I just spit it out, I’m not taking any chances with losing my teeth prematurely 😂

[Betelgeuse3]

I may be blowing it out of proportion
You are. I'd find it beyond ridiculous if dh kept pulling me up on something so small.

[Doje]

I wouldn't have thought it's the rinsing that's causing the stain.

But, either way he's not going to listen to you. Next time you go to the dentist, go in first and ask them to mention it to your DP again.

[Mandarinfish]

You've told him lots of times, now let it go.

[Whitney168]

People of my advanced age were always told to rinse after brushing. It's quite recent that advice seems to have changed on this. I always think as I rinse that I should re-train myself, but it's just too ingrained LOL.

(It'll have nothing to do with yellowing and staining though, it's just increased exposure to fluoride or summat, isn't it?)

[PlumsGalore]

Just googled it and apparently that’s not ok either.

[firstimemamma]

Yanbu - fiancé and I don't rinse and I understand why this is a good idea.

On the other hand yabu as it's his mouth and his choice. If he's brushing twice a day surely that's the main thing and he should just be left to it as he is an adult.

I can see both sides!

[DisinterestedParty]

My husband rinses, I don't. I also heard that you're not supposed to because it stops the toothpaste continuing to work after you've finished brushing. Same with mouthwash, you're supposed to use it 30 minutes after you've brushed.

But honestly, it's kind of his business and I'd be pissed off if my husband tried to tell me how to brush my teeth. I am a massive control freak and I nag him a lot (not just being a self hating misogynist, just the truth) and I'm really trying to reign it in. So I have never mentioned the rinsing thing, which I count as a victory in my campaign to stop nagging.

[Mintjulia]

I’ve been told this too. I don’t rinse but surely it’s a matter of personal preference. They are his teeth.

[NewYearNewUserNameForMe]

If you don't rinse, surely you're left with a mouthful of saliva mixed with toothpaste?
No, just spit all that stuff out. Just don't rinse with water.

If you're worried just buy him some mouthwash. But it's up to him if he uses it
The dentist advised that mouthwash was basically the same as water, washing all the fluride off.

Most people rinse after cleaning their teeth. Otherwise your breakfast tastes funny!
You're one of those weirdos who brushes before eating! No problem with this if you brush after eating.

Thanks for all the reassurance about staining

[mintich]

Both of our dentists have told us this too.

[formerbabe]

My dentist told me not to rinse.

However, yabu. He's an adult...not a child. You sound quite controlling. Leave him to it.

[gamerchick]

I think we need a dentist here.

I understand that you don't rinse because it rinses away the best effect and to not use mouthwash and toothpaste at the same time. More like half an hour or something afterwards.

[squishee]

How do you even know? Do you hover behind him in the bathroom? Micromanagement springs to mind.

TBF I have heard the advice against rinsing (only on here), but who wants to taste toothpaste for ages after brushing?
Is there no fluoride in your drinking water?

And now I'm seeing toothbrush adverts...

[dementedpixie]

You should spit, not rinse. It just washes away all the protective fluoride you've just brushed onto your teeth. Dont use mouthwash afterwards either as it does the same. If you use mouthwash use it between brushing not at the same time

[ItsJustTheOneSwanActually]

i rinse with mouthwash....