Couldn’t agree more about brushing being the main thing. I’ve been through decades of dental ups and downs—fillings, crowns, even a couple of root canals—and every dentist I’ve seen has hammered home the basics: brush well, floss if you can manage it, and keep up with those checkups. All the fancy rinses and gadgets are just extras in my book.
I remember when my grandkids were little, their parents tried every rinse on the market. Some tasted like bubblegum, others like medicine... none of them went over well. It turned into a nightly standoff. Eventually they ditched the rinse and just focused on helping the kids brush properly, and you know what? Cavities didn’t suddenly pop up everywhere. If anything, things improved because there was less fuss at bedtime.
Not to say rinses are bad—they have their place, especially for folks with braces or those who really struggle with cavities—but for most healthy kids (and honestly for us older folks too), good brushing with fluoride toothpaste does most of the heavy lifting. I’ve always felt like it’s easy to get caught up in buying extra products when what really matters is just sticking to the basics.
One thing I will say: as I’ve gotten older, my dentist did suggest a fluoride rinse for me because my gums have receded a bit and I’m more prone to sensitivity now. But that’s more about individual needs than a must-have for everyone.
It’s easy to feel guilty if you’re not doing every single thing out there—rinses, water picks, fancy brushes—but sometimes less is more if it means you’re actually sticking with it. Consistency wins out over perfection every time in my experience.
Yeah, I totally get what you’re saying about all the extra stuff feeling kind of overwhelming sometimes. I’m new to actually caring about my teeth (used to just brush and hope for the best), so I’ve been kinda stressing about whether I need to add all these rinses and gadgets to my routine. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype, especially when you walk down the dental aisle and there’s like, a million options. I always wonder if I’m missing out on something important, or if I’m just getting played by marketing.
Honestly, I was surprised when my dentist told me pretty much the same thing you said—just brush well, floss if you can, and don’t skip checkups. I asked about the fluoride rinse and he was like, “If you’re brushing with fluoride toothpaste, you’re probably covered unless you’ve got specific issues.” That was a relief. I was worried I was slacking or something.
I do get what you mean about individual needs, though. My mom started using a fluoride rinse because her teeth got super sensitive after some dental work, and it actually helped her a lot. But for me, I just can’t keep up with a ton of steps. If it gets too complicated, I’ll just end up skipping stuff altogether.
Bedtime routines as a kid were a nightmare for me too—my parents tried to get me to use some blue-tasting rinse and I hated it. I’d hide in the bathroom and pretend I did it. Didn’t get a ton of cavities, so maybe brushing was enough after all.
I think you nailed it with “consistency wins out over perfection.” That’s honestly encouraging to hear, especially since I tend to feel guilty if I’m not doing every single thing. Gonna try to just stick to the basics and not stress so much about all the extras unless something changes. Thanks for sharing your experience—it’s actually super helpful to hear from someone who’s been through the dental wars and come out the other side.
I hear you about the blue-tasting rinses—mine was some kind of neon green as a kid, and honestly, I’d rather have taken cough syrup. Hiding in the bathroom pretending to swish? Been there, done that. Funny thing is, I made it through most of my life with just brushing and flossing (well, “flossing” is generous—I went through phases). Didn’t start using a fluoride rinse until my dentist found a couple of sneaky cavities in my 60s and suggested it.
What surprised me is how much of dental care does come down to routine over razzle-dazzle. I’ve tried those fancy water flossers, whitening gadgets, you name it. Most of them ended up collecting dust under the sink. My hygienist always says: “If your brushing and flossing are solid, you’re way ahead of the game.” That’s been true for me—when I get lazy, that’s when the problems crop up.
I do think rinses have their place if you’ve got sensitivity or a lot of fillings, but for most folks? The basics really are enough. Consistency beats perfection every time... even if your rinse tastes like a chemical swimming pool.
Consistency beats perfection every time... even if your rinse tastes like a chemical swimming pool.
That’s it, really. My kid’s dentist keeps it simple—fluoride rinse is “sometimes” for us, not every day, since she’s still little and sometimes swallows more than she should. We stick to brushing twice a day and flossing (well, trying). Dentist said the rinse is more of a backup if there are cavities or braces involved. I get wanting to do more, but honestly, the basics seem to go a long way.
