To wonder when we stopped rinsing?

[ArgyMargy]

Apparently when you brush your teeth you are supposed to spit, not rinse. This is official guidance from the NHS and government. Am I the only one who thinks that this is not only daft but a little bit disgusting?

[NatashaRomanov]

Why do you think it's disgusting?

[DragonMamma]

I'm confused. I spit as I go and then rinse and spit at the end? Is this wrong?!

[AesSedai]

I hate the taste of toothpaste, so rinsing is an absolute MUST for me to get rid of as much of the taste as possible. Bugger what the latest fad is.

[Discopanda]

It's something to do with the toothpaste being less effective I think

[AesSedai]

Well it's done me for over 60 years

[purpleroses]

My kids have both been taught that at school. I looked it up on line and it does seem that's the official advice now - the fluoride stays in contact with your teeth for longer. But I think it's yucky myself and always rinse.

[bonzo77]

This is old news. Mum was telling me this in 1980. Spit as you go, spit at the end. If you rinse you rinse away the fluoride. If you have so much debris that not to spit is disgusting you need to use interdental brushes before your normal brush. Unless you are one of those people who find swallowing their own saliva disgusting not as disgusting as it is for those of us who have to clean up after your spitting. Boak.

[NaiceNickname]

Why is it disgusting they say don't rinse because the toothpaste left in your mouth carries on protecting your teeth. I uses mouthwash after brushing so I guess that rinses my mouth out, but if I have none left or just cba one morning then I won't rinse with water.

[SqueezyCheeseWeasel]

It's common sense really. Toothpaste contains protective ingredients, rinsing washes them away meaning that they are not as effective. Especially those '12hr' toothpastes, they'll struggle to work if you are washing the active ingredients away immediately.

[InfinitySeven]

Noooo mouthwash first. Then toothpaste, then spit.

Otherwise you're rinsing away all the money that you just spent on toothpaste.

[madsadbad]

If you think its gross, you can have a rinse and then pop a clean blob in your clean mouth and rub that around.

[ArthurShappey]

I was advised only to rinse in the morning. Not at night.

I'm not sure what's so disgusting about it though OP. It's toothpaste?!

[AmIAHypocritic]

I thought you could rinse, mouth wash, spit, to the same effect

[ArgyMargy]

Naice - you are doing it wrong! It says no rinsing, and no mouthwash!!

[ArgyMargy]

It's disgusting because you either have to spit (disgusting in itself) or swallow (eeeewwwww). God knows what crap is in toothpaste. Surely that clean feeling comes from rinsing?!

[MsJupiter]

I've been training myself not to rinse for the last few months as I hate the toothpastey taste and texture. Now I just wet my lips at the end to wipe away any excess. It's not so bad and it makes total sense.

I also brush completely differently now, much more gentle circular strokes focusing mostly on the gum line. Both changes seem to have improved my oral health.

[steff13]

You're not meant to swallow toothpaste. And God isn't the only one who knows what's in toothpaste; it's written on the box.

You can brush with plain water, if you like.

[Fcukfifa]

I've never rinsed, just brushed and spat out, didn't know that rinsing was a thing

[ArgyMargy]

I wonder if it's a sneaky way to make people ingest fluoride if it's not in the local water. I have nothing against fluoride by the way - it's wonderful stuff.

[VenusRising]

I spit as I brush my teeth, brush my tongue, and rinse at the end, then floss, and then I put a tiny bit of toothpaste on my teeth.

Maybe the solution?

[VenusRising]

There is plenty of fluoride added to drinking water to arrest cavities.

You could brush your teeth with breadsoda, lime clay or fine chalk, but I'd give sand a miss as silica is harder than teeth, and you'll get micro abrasions (which then fill up with discolouring stains and bacteria etc) on the surface.

I like the taste of toothpaste though, especially euthymol....

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I can't remember last time I rinsed, I just brush and spit.

[steff13]

If you must rinse, why not rinse with something like Act that has flouride in it? Crest and Listerine make mouthwashes with flouride in them now, too.

[Kittymautz]

I was told by my dentist that you should floss and/or use interdental brushes BEFORE brushing your teeth, not after. That's because then any little bits that are loosened by the floss/interdental brush are then brushed away by your toothbrush.

[steff13]

I always floss first, then brush my tongue, then brush my teeth last, then rinse with a special flouride rinse from my dentist (weak teeth).