Wellness: Why You Should ‘Spit And Not Rinse’ Your Mouth After Brushing

  One of the topics to trend on the Nigerian social media space this week was triggered by this thread on Twitter See more

You brushed your teeth, took your bath.
But you RINSED your mouth! With water

From tomorrow, try this:

Brush your teeth, but don't rinse your mouth, just spit out the excess toothpaste

Rinsing washes off the fluoride that actually works on your teeth

RT

— Dr. Chinonso Egemba (@aproko_doctor) November 23, 2020

The thread which was started by a Twitter handle known as Aproko Doctor has since stirred a debate on whether it is practical to spit but not rinse with water after brushing our mouth. We decided to do our research on the topic and here is what we found. “Spit and not rinse” was the message published by the Oral Health Foundation in 2016. The poll showed that about two in three of us rinse our mouth with water after brushing, which actually increases our risks of developing tooth decay. Dr Nigel Carter, OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation made a case for why spitting and not rinsing after brushing your teeth is beneficial to your oral health. Dr. Carter said:

“Rinsing our mouth with water is very bad for our teeth as it washes away the protective fluoride left behind by brushing. “Fluoride is the single-most-important ingredient in toothpaste. It greatly helps oral health by strengthening the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay. It also reduces the amount of acid that the bacteria on your teeth produce. “By spitting toothpaste out then not rinsing with water it ensures that the fluoride found in the majority of toothpaste will remain on the teeth and continue to be effective.”

Furthermore, this health tip is best followed at night because your mouth produces less saliva during the day. Due to this drop in saliva production, your teeth are left vulnerable to acid attacks, which allows plaque bacteria to thrive in your teeth. Spit and not rinse your mouth after brushing at night to enable the fluoride to strengthen your oral health and prevent tooth decay.  Avoid drinking or eating anything except water after brushing at night, as this gives the fluoride the longest opportunity to work. Featured Image Source: iStock

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