That’s interesting about the rinsing—my kid’s dentist said the same thing, and it honestly surprised me. I always figured you had to rinse or your mouth would just feel kind of gross, but apparently not. It’s been a challenge getting my son used to just spitting instead of rinsing, though. He says it feels weird and wants a drink right after brushing.
I’ve wondered about the paste vs. rinse combo, especially for kids. Is there any real benefit to adding a fluoride rinse on top of toothpaste, or does it just end up being overkill? We tried the rinse for a while (the bubblegum flavor was a hit), but then I worried maybe that was too much fluoride since he’s still pretty young. Anyone else run into that with their kids? Sometimes I feel like I’m overthinking it, but at the same time, I just want to do what’s best for his teeth without going overboard.
I’ve wondered about the paste vs. rinse combo, especially for kids. Is there any real benefit to adding a fluoride rinse on top of toothpaste, or does it just end up being overkill?
Honestly, I kinda think the rinse is overkill for most little kids, unless your dentist specifically says otherwise. My youngest tried to sneak sips of the bubblegum rinse like it was a treat, so I nixed it pretty fast. The “spit, don’t rinse” thing took some getting used to at our house too—my daughter complained her mouth felt all foamy and weird. But from what I’ve heard, leaving a little paste behind is actually the point. I get wanting to do everything right, but sometimes less really is more with fluoride, especially for the under-6 crowd.
I’ve always wondered about this too, especially since I’m super cautious with anything dental. My dentist told me that for most kids, just brushing with fluoride toothpaste and not rinsing right after is enough. I get nervous about overdoing it with fluoride, especially since my niece once swallowed the rinse and got a tummy ache. Is there any real harm if you use both, though? I still worry sometimes that I’m not doing enough or maybe doing too much. It’s hard to find the right balance.
I totally get the anxiety—I'm constantly second-guessing if I'm brushing too much or not enough. My dentist said something similar about just sticking with toothpaste and skipping the rinse, especially for kids. I still bought a bottle of mouthwash, though, just in case. It sits on my counter like a backup plan... but I barely use it because I’m paranoid about swallowing any.
Honestly, I think unless you’re chugging the stuff (which, yikes), using both now and then probably isn’t going to cause real harm, but overdoing it every day might be a bit much. My cousin’s little girl had a similar tummy ache after accidentally swallowing some rinse, so you’re definitely not alone there. I just stick with toothpaste most days and only use the rinse if my teeth are feeling extra gross. Sometimes less is more, right?
I’ve actually been told by my ortho to avoid mouthwash completely while I’m in braces, unless it’s specifically for ortho patients. They said some rinses can mess with the glue or stain the brackets? I get nervous about not rinsing after brushing though—like, doesn’t the toothpaste just sit there? But then if you rinse, are you washing away the fluoride before it can help? I always end up just spitting and not rinsing, but it feels weird. Anyone else feel like you’re doing it wrong no matter what?