Oral Hygiene: Don’t Rinse After Brushing

When it comes to oral hygiene, brushing your teeth plays a fundamental role in maintaining fresh breath and a bacteria-free mouth. However, how we do it will determine the effectiveness of this practice in removing harmful residues, and it should be a must-have in our daily routine.

Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys, recognized as one of the best dentists in Colombia, has drawn attention to a bad habit many of us have: rinsing our mouths with plenty of water immediately after brushing, thereby removing any remaining toothpaste we’ve used.

Not rinsing improves your oral hygiene.

A graduate of the prestigious University of Cartagena, Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys is the director of the spa-like clinic Sonrisa Perfecta Dental. As part of her academic training, this renowned Colombian dentist has a master’s degree in Microbiology and training in Immunogenetics, Molecular Genetics, and Clinical Genetics. She also has training in Environmental Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

All of this, along with her ongoing research and development for her books, has allowed her to become an authority on oral health. She understands how dental tissues interact with external factors that can benefit or harm them. Among them is toothpaste.

Regarding this product widely used around the world, Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys’s recommendation is very clear. She advises against rinsing your mouth with water immediately after brushing. The reason? Drinking plenty of water washes away toothpaste and with it the fluoride, its main active ingredient. This substance is what protects teeth from cavities, as it strengthens the enamel.

What happens to oral hygiene when we rinse our mouths with water after brushing?

When we rinse our mouths with plenty of water to remove all toothpaste residue, we have several undesirable consequences for oral hygiene.

• We eliminate fluoride. The value of toothpaste lies in the amount of fluoride in its formula. By eliminating it, we are depriving ourselves of all the benefits it can provide to our teeth. Without fluoride, the risk of cavities increases and oral enamel weakens.
• We reduce its effectiveness. Toothpaste formulas are designed to work for several hours to strengthen enamel and teeth in general. By rinsing, we interrupt the toothpaste’s action and reduce its protective effectiveness.
• Less fresh breath. One thing we notice when we immediately remove toothpaste residue is that its refreshing effect also ends. Although water also refreshes, its sensation is much more ephemeral than that of toothpaste.

What can we do instead of rinsing our mouths?

For many, thinking about not rinsing our mouths after brushing can mean breaking a paradigm they’ve always held. Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys, recognized as the best dentist in Colombia, understands this situation because until a few years ago, that was the premise. “We were all taught that oral hygiene includes rinsing after brushing,” she asserts.

The truth is that new research supports the fact that not rinsing is the best option for oral hygiene. But what do we do instead? The recommendation of the director of the Sonrisa Perfecta Dental spa clinic is very simple.

Instead of rinsing, what you should do is spit out the excess toothpaste and saliva and wait at least 30 minutes. During this time, the fluoride in your mouth will be working and providing all its benefits. You also shouldn’t eat or drink anything. This way, you avoid reducing the effect of fluoride by combining it with other acidic substances or chemicals.

If the toothpaste doesn’t taste good or doesn’t leave much of a fresh feeling, using mouthwash is recommended. It shouldn’t contain fluoride or alcohol to avoid harmful side effects. It’s also important not to use mouthwash immediately after brushing. Dr. Tarsys Loayza Roys advises that for proper oral hygiene, it’s best to wait at least an hour.

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