The average person rinses out with water after brushing the teeth as a tradition picked up from siblings and parents. There is however a building argument as to whether one should rinse out after brushing or simply to spit out. The argument stems from the presence of fluoride (a naturally occurring mineral that protects the tooth surfaces against tooth decay) which is present in most toothpastes.
The Argument
There are generally two sides to the argument as regards this subject.
Argument One
Those in support of this argument believe that rinsing the mouth after brushing will wash away the protective action of fluoride which prevents tooth decay. It stresses the fact that most people brush for less than the required time of 2 mins thereby shortening the length of time fluoride stays in contact with the teeth; it supports spitting out instead of rinsing to enable the fluoride in the toothpaste have more contact with the teeth.
Argument Two
The people in support of this encourage rinsing out after brushing so as to get rid of germs and debris brushed off as well as to remove excess fluoride. This is also to prevent swallowing toothpaste and the debris removed from the teeth which may cause some irritation to the stomach.
My Take
Both arguments have valid points. Some people can handle not rinsing out at all while others feel irritated by the presence of toothpaste in the mouth. To create a balance between both sides, i’ll say brush for nothing less than 2 mins and rinse with very little water. This way, you would have allowed the fluoride act on the teeth as well as gotten rid of debris and residual toothpaste.
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