I’ve been in the same boat with braces—overthinking every little thing. I used to rinse right after brushing because it just felt gross not to, but my hygienist said to just spit and leave the toothpaste on. Now I brush at night, spit, and then use mouthwash before school instead. It’s a little weird at first, but my teeth have been less sensitive since I started doing it that way. Still not sure if it’s “right,” but it seems to help.
I get what you mean about wanting to rinse right away—leaving toothpaste foam on my teeth always felt weird to me too. But honestly, I’ve heard pretty mixed things about whether you should leave the paste or rinse it off. My ortho actually told me that if I use a fluoride mouthwash, it’s better to do that at night after brushing and just spit (not rinse with water), so the fluoride from both sticks around while I sleep.
But here’s where I’m not totally sold: some mouthwashes have less fluoride than toothpaste, so if you rinse with mouthwash right after brushing, you might actually be washing away the stronger stuff. That kind of made me rethink doing both one after the other. Now I just brush, spit, and leave it at that before bed—no mouthwash—then do mouthwash in the morning if my mouth feels gross.
I guess everyone’s teeth are different, but for me, less rinsing seems to help. My teeth feel less sensitive, and my gums aren’t as irritated. Maybe it’s just trial and error until you find what works for you?
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with mouthwashes—some of them are pricier and still don’t have as much fluoride as basic toothpaste. I actually stopped buying the fancy stuff because it felt like I was just washing money down the drain, literally. Now I just brush, spit, and skip rinsing at night like you said. My dentist mentioned that leaving a bit of paste on your teeth can help, but honestly, it takes a while to get used to that sticky feeling. Anyone else feel like toothpaste lasts forever when you’re not rinsing? For me, it’s definitely helped with sensitivity and I haven’t had any new cavities since switching it up. Kind of makes me wonder if all those mouthwash ads are just hype...
I kinda get nervous about skipping mouthwash, honestly. My dentist made it sound like it’s extra protection, especially if you’re prone to cavities. I know the ads are probably over the top, but I still feel weird not using it after brushing. Maybe it’s just habit, but the minty rinse makes me feel cleaner than just toothpaste sticking around. Anyone else get anxious about ditching it?
I still feel weird not using it after brushing. Maybe it’s just habit, but the minty rinse makes me feel cleaner than just toothpaste sticking around.
Honestly, that “clean” feeling from mouthwash is super common—lots of people feel like something’s missing without it. But if you’re using a fluoride toothpaste, letting it sit on your teeth (without rinsing right after) actually gives you more cavity protection. I totally get the urge for that fresh blast, but sometimes less is more for your enamel. I used to be all about mouthwash too, but now I just use it at night, and my teeth have been fine. If you’re cavity-prone, a fluoride rinse (not just a cosmetic mouthwash) can help, but don’t knock yourself for skipping it sometimes.
