That “don’t rinse after brushing” thing took me forever to get used to. I grew up thinking you had to rinse or your mouth would feel gross, but my hygienist said the same as your ortho—let the fluoride hang around a bit. I’m long past the braces stage (thank goodness), but I still do the whole brush, spit, don’t rinse routine, then use a fluoride rinse before bed. My dentist says it’s especially helpful for us older folks since gums can recede and leave more tooth exposed.
One tip: I keep my rinse on my nightstand so I don’t forget. If I leave it in the bathroom, I’ll get distracted by something else (usually my cat demanding attention). It’s not glamorous, but honestly, since I started doing this regularly, my checkups have been way better. Fewer “watch spots” and no new fillings in a couple years. Can’t say it’s 100% necessary for everyone, but for me it’s been worth sticking to—even if it feels a little over-the-top sometimes.
I’m really glad you mentioned how weird it feels at first to not rinse after brushing. I’m super anxious about doing things “wrong” with my teeth, and honestly, I still get the urge to just rinse everything out because it feels cleaner. But hearing your results—no new fillings for years—is actually kind of reassuring. I keep worrying that skipping the rinse will somehow make things worse, but maybe I just need to stick with it a little longer. The nightstand tip is smart too… I get distracted by my phone or just forget sometimes. Maybe this is the push I needed to keep at it.
I totally get where you’re coming from—skipping the rinse just feels odd at first. I was super nervous about it too, honestly. It almost felt like I was leaving toothpaste gunk behind or something. But after a few weeks, I noticed my teeth felt smoother and my dentist said my enamel looked better. Still, I do miss that super fresh feeling sometimes... but the payoff seems worth it. The nightstand trick helped me remember too, especially when I was half asleep and tempted to just skip everything. Hang in there—it does get easier.
It almost felt like I was leaving toothpaste gunk behind or something.
Haha, I totally relate to that “gunky” feeling—it took me ages to stop rinsing. My dentist explained that letting the fluoride chill on your teeth is like giving your enamel a mini spa treatment. I still miss the icy blast from mouthwash, though. Sometimes I’ll just swish with a tiny bit of water, but I try not to overdo it. It’s weird at first, but my teeth have honestly never felt stronger. The struggle is real, but it’s worth it.
I keep hearing this about not rinsing, but honestly, I just can’t stand that leftover paste feeling. My dentist said the same thing about the fluoride needing time, but every time I try leaving it, I end up rubbing my tongue over my teeth for like an hour. Is it really that big a deal if you rinse just a little? Also, does using mouthwash right after brushing mess it up, or is that totally overthinking it? I always feel like I’m doing it wrong.