I’ve got a lineup of half-used mouthwash bottles too—somehow they just multiply under my sink. I always thought using mouthwash right after brushing was like giving my teeth a bonus round, but turns out I was probably just washing away all the good stuff from the toothpaste. My dentist gave me that “don’t rinse” tip too, and it felt weird at first to leave that minty film on my teeth, but now I’m used to it. It’s like a little invisible shield for the day.
I did try switching up the order once—mouthwash first, then brushing—but honestly, it just felt backwards. Plus, I read somewhere (probably while doomscrolling at 2am) that the fluoride in most mouthwashes isn’t as concentrated as toothpaste anyway, so you’re not really doubling up on anything. If anything, you’re just buying more bottles to add to the collection.
On the floss front—totally agree. I splurged on those fancy woven flosses last month and they’re weirdly satisfying to use. Way better than the cheap stuff that shreds instantly or gets stuck between your teeth. And yeah, if I had to pick between mouthwash and coffee... well, let’s just say Starbucks wins every time.
But I do wonder if people with crazy cavity issues actually see a difference with both paste and rinse? I’ve never been one of those “three fillings every visit” types, so maybe it’s just overkill for some of us. For now, I’ll stick with brushing, flossing (when I remember), and letting my toothpaste do its thing while my graveyard of mouthwash bottles continues to grow.
But I do wonder if people with crazy cavity issues actually see a difference with both paste and rinse? I’ve never been one of those “three fillings every visit” types, so maybe it’s just overkill for some of us.
This is exactly what I’ve been stressing about. I’m new to the whole “adulting” at the dentist thing and I keep second-guessing if I’m doing enough, or too much. Is it possible to overdo it with all these products? Like, if you use both mouthwash and toothpaste, could that actually mess with your teeth or gums?
I also got told about the “don’t rinse” rule and it feels super weird leaving that toothpaste taste behind. I always want to swish with water after. Does it really make that much of a difference or is it just a dentist thing? I’m low-key worried I’ll end up with a mouthful of cavities if I don’t do it “right.”
Your mouthwash collection sounds hilarious, by the way. Mine’s just one sad bottle I never finish because I’m too nervous about using it wrong. Guess we’re all kind of winging it, huh?
I also got told about the “don’t rinse” rule and it feels super weird leaving that toothpaste taste behind. I always want to swish with water after. Does it really make that much of a difference or is it just a dentist thing?
Honestly, I spent years rinsing right after brushing because the minty taste bugged me too. But my hygienist said leaving a bit of paste gives the fluoride more time to work. At first, it felt wrong, but I got used to it. Haven’t noticed any downside—no extra cavities or sore gums. I don’t think you can really overdo it unless you’re scrubbing way too hard or using super strong mouthwash all day. It’s more about consistency than perfection, in my experience.
At first, it felt wrong, but I got used to it.
Same here—leaving that gritty mint taste just feels... off. But after a while, you kind of forget about it. I read somewhere that rinsing right away is like washing off sunscreen before it does its job, which made me laugh but also made sense. I still slip up sometimes and rinse out of habit, but honestly, my teeth have been less sensitive since I started leaving the paste. Not a miracle cure or anything, but worth a shot if you can handle the aftertaste.
I get what you mean about the aftertaste, but honestly, I just can't deal with that gritty feeling—makes me want to rinse every time. My dentist actually told me it's fine to spit and then do a really quick rinse as long as it's not a full-on mouthful of water, just enough to get rid of the extra foam. Maybe I'm not getting *maximum* fluoride, but my teeth haven't gotten worse, and I don't dread brushing anymore. Sometimes comfort wins out over strict rules, at least for me.
