Should You Rinse After Brushing Your Teeth?

You Should Know: We’ve known how to brush our teeth for decades: brushing, spitting, brushing some more, spitting some more, then rinsing with water and spitting again. But even though that may be how most of us learned how to brush, that might actually not be the best idea. Have we all been brushing our teeth wrong this whole time?

Going Deeper: Some dental experts argue that skipping the rinse step offers better protection for the teeth — rinsing can wash away protective fluoride and other active ingredients, reducing the time they stay in contact with your teeth and limiting their effectiveness. The debate isn’t cut-and-dry, though, as other experts say rinsing after brushing is OK. They say the most important part is brushing regularly: twice a day for at least two minutes each time (plus a once-daily flossing). 

Takeaway: While individual dentists might debate the “to rinse or not to rinse” question, the American Dental Association does have a clear recommendation: Don’t rinse right after brushing. Spitting out globs of toothpaste is good, but leave the residue on your teeth for at least 20 minutes. If that feels too weird, you can also rinse with a fluoride mouthwash.