At this point I just hope doing most of it right most of the time is good enough.
Honestly, same here. I try to follow the “spit, don’t rinse” thing because my dentist said it’s cheaper than buying extra rinses and still helps. But on nights when my mouth feels too gross, I’ll rinse with a little water and just move on. I figure as long as we’re brushing and not skipping days, we’re ahead of the game. The fancy rinses add up cost-wise too, so I just stick with regular toothpaste most days—less stress and less money.
The fancy rinses add up cost-wise too, so I just stick with regular toothpaste most days—less stress and less money.
Yeah, we’re all about low-stress around here. My kid’s dentist is always pushing the “just spit, don’t rinse” thing too, but sometimes my little one insists on rinsing because “it tastes weird.” Anyone else have a kid who’s basically a toothpaste sommelier? I keep wondering if the occasional rinse really undoes all the fluoride magic, or if we’re overthinking it.
That “just spit, don’t rinse” thing is a big topic in my house too. My youngest can spot a new toothpaste flavor a mile away, but if it’s even a little minty, she’s running for the sink before I can blink. I’ve read (and heard from colleagues) that rinsing right after brushing does wash away some of the fluoride, but honestly, missing a bit here and there isn’t the end of the world. It’s more about habits over time than one perfect brush. I still get anxious about it sometimes, though—old dental habits die hard...
It’s more about habits over time than one perfect brush. I still get anxious about it sometimes, though—old dental habits die hard...
Totally get this. I used to be a serial rinser—couldn’t stand the aftertaste. But once I learned that leaving a bit of fluoride on your teeth helps strengthen enamel, I started just spitting and moving on. Not saying it’s easy, especially with kids who hate minty stuff, but those small changes add up over the years. And yeah, missing a night or two isn’t going to undo everything. Consistency really does matter more than perfection.
Yeah, the rinsing thing tripped me up for years. I always thought you had to rinse after brushing or you’d get that weird filmy feeling, but turns out, just spitting leaves more fluoride behind to do its job. My dentist actually laughed when I said I was rinsing with water after every brush—apparently it’s super common. Still feels odd sometimes, but my teeth have been less sensitive since I switched it up. As for the paste vs. rinse debate, I’ve heard some folks use both, but honestly, just sticking with a good fluoride toothpaste and not overthinking it seems to work for most people.
