If you are the kind of person that rinses your mouth with water after washing it, I want you to consider stopping it, as it is very bad for your teeth and may even lead to tooth decay if continued over a long period of time.
A young child brushing her teeth
Rinsing the mouth with water after brushing is bad because it washes away the fluoride in the toothpaste that is supposed to stay on your teeth and act on germs.
Fluoride is the most important substance in toothpastes. It works by strengthening the enamel of the teeth, making it stronger and more resistant to decay. Fluoride also reduces the concentration or amount of acid in your teeth that may have been produced by bacteria.
Instead of rinsing your mouth with water, you should spit out the excess toothpaste in your mouth and then wait for maybe 5-10 minutes, for the fluoride to act on your teeth. After this time, you may now finally rinse with water, or may decide to leave your mouth that way. Both are healthy and perfectly fine for your teeth. Don't rinse with water straight after toothbrushing.
However, if you do want to use mouthwash as a substitute, you should ensure to use it at a time different to brushing, so that you may get all the benefits of the fluoride that is contained in your toothpaste.
Also, you should ensure to brush your teeth for at least two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night for effective control of plaques and bacteria from the food we may have eaten during the day. However, you may visit a dentist that may recommend a better plan for you, based on your teeth health and history.
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