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.

@mrsmorton thanks hadn't worked out that I had free will over my own mouth

Water in USA is mostly if not entirely fluoridated.

You’re also supposed to wait 45 minutes to an hour after eating before brushing

So that means brush at work, right? I mean if you have breakfast at home that's the only way the timing works. Since I find brushing revolting, the idea of brushing at work is very urgh. Having to impose that revoltingness on others, or I guess just having a break to brush is a time suck, too.

Op you don't really believe water stains your teeth, right?

Brushing you teeth before eating- especialy in the morning is far better for dental health.

Ots the jew thing you dont rinse as the fluoride residue strengthens your teeth, but it's up to him what he does. If his teeth are discolour hes either not brushing properly, needs a scale and polish (has he been lately?) Is getting stains from coffee, tea, red wine, smoking. Only he can do something about it. The dentist will tell him what to do so make him an appointment.

Fluoridation of the water isn't enough to fully prevent tooth decay. The tap water in the UK is also fluoridated, unless the water already contains above a threshold level of fluoride.

Scottish water is not fluoridated so your UK statement is wrong

I don't get the brushing before eating thing.

If we're supposed to wait 45 mins after eating before brushing is that why there is so much bad breath on my commute?

Scottish water is not fluoridated so your UK statement is wrong

Apologies- I'll amend, 'The tap water in some of the UK is also fluoridated.'

If you're eating acidic foods/drinks at breakfast then it may be best to brush teeth before eating

You’re also supposed to wait 45 minutes to an hour after eating before brushing

Somewhat impractical after breakfast, when you are heading out to work.

Brushing you teeth before eating- especially in the morning is far better for dental health.

I have heard this before, but genuinely can't see that it would be doing my teeth any good at all to have flakes of cereal on them all day, rather than cleaning that off them

@backforgood weird teeth that you have that store food, what do you do after lunch?

The tap water in a small amount of the UK is fluoridated at optimal levels, either naturally or artificially. Approx 6 million people receive a fluoridated water supply.
Meanwhile, the most common reason children are admitted to hospital in the UK is for extractions under General Anaesthesia.
It's depressing

@BackforGood
Clean teeth don't store food.

A good routine is get up, TePe teeth first , then brush with pea of optimally fluoridated toothpaste. Then spit not rinse.
Eat breakfast. Just before bed, repeat as above.

@backforgood weird teeth that you have that store food, what do you do after lunch?

Well, maybe they are weird, I don't know - they are the only set I've had , but, fact of the matter is weetabix does tend to 'flake' (for want of a better word) and have bits that stay in your mouth, whereas my sarnies don't tend to. That said, I do then clean my teeth after my evening meal before going out again in the evening.

@katielilly what do you mean by TePe ?

Am still waiting for someone to explain why you would need to clean teeth when you get up, when you've not eaten or drunk anything since you cleaned your teeth before going to bed the previous night ?

TePe are a brand of interdental toothbrush, @BackForGood

Back I believe it is because toothbrushing isn't primarily about removing food but is actually to remove bacteria which form plaque, bacteria which have a breeding frenzy while we sleep. It seems sensible to remove it before feeding it delicious breakfast.

I have never used a fluoride toothpaste and have no fillings (mid 40s)

Fluoride can have dangerous side effects. The Nazis fluoridated the water in the death camps to subdue the inmates, not to protect the prisoners' teeth obviously.

bebrainfit.com/fluoride-neurotoxin/

I can bear not to rinse after using minty toothpaste, it makes my tongue hurt. I use flavourless toothpaste now (oranurse from Amazon) and don't rinse.

I only mention it in case your dp feels the same.

I have very strong teeth. I don't have an electric toothbrush, I don't brush for two minutes and I rinse. However, the only thing I drink is water, I don't smoke or drink alcohol. I don't drink coffe and tea is at most one cup a day. I doubt that rinsing is a big probleM if you then stain your teeth with coffee an hour later.

We were told (recently) not to rinse as the fluoride can't build up otherwise.

I really DON’T want to eat breakfast with people who haven’t cleaned their teeth.

I really DON’T want to eat breakfast with people who haven’t cleaned their teeth

How close are you getting to these people? I think you might be doing breakfast wrongly.

I’m not sure a 30cm rule works with family but perhaps we are less formal but also less filthy?

30cm is actually a very small distance- it's the length of a piece of A4 paper.