Okay, hear me out. Imagine it's the end of the world, zombies everywhere, civilization collapsed, you know the drill. You're scavenging through abandoned supermarkets and pharmacies, and you stumble upon a shelf that's somehow untouched. But here's the catch: there's only enough room in your backpack for either fluoride toothpaste or fluoride rinse. You gotta choose one to keep your teeth from rotting out during the apocalypse (because let's face it, dental care is gonna be scarce).
Personally, I'm leaning toward toothpaste. I mean, it feels like it cleans better, right? You get that satisfying scrubby feeling, and at least psychologically it feels like you're doing something productive. Plus, if you're desperate enough, maybe toothpaste could double as some kind of barter item—like minty fresh currency in a world gone mad.
But then again... rinse is quicker and easier to use on-the-go. No need to find clean water to rinse your mouth afterward (ironic, considering it's called rinse). Just swish and spit. Maybe that's more practical when you're constantly on the run from hordes of undead or rival scavengers.
I dunno, maybe I'm overthinking this (probably am), but now I'm genuinely curious what other people would pick in this totally realistic scenario. Which one would you grab and why?
"Just swish and spit. Maybe that's more practical when you're constantly on the run from hordes of undead or rival scavengers."
You make a good point about practicality, but from a purely dental perspective, I'd still go with toothpaste. Fluoride rinse is helpful, sure, but toothpaste has abrasives that physically remove plaque and debris—something rinse alone can't quite do. Plus, maintaining gum health is crucial; toothpaste helps prevent gingivitis by mechanically cleaning the gumline. Rinse won't give you that thorough clean, unfortunately.
