We all know the great importance of brushing your teeth, but is it right to rinse your mouth afterwards, or just spit out the paste? Well, if you rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth, stop immediately. The toothpaste works to protect the teeth from cavities, because it contains fluoride, which helps prevent cavities and restore minerals that the tooth may process, as a result of the acids produced by the bacteria.
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Toothpastes contain fluoride and other ingredients designed to strengthen tooth enamel, and need to be left on your teeth for a while to get the full benefit. Fluoride helps teeth mainly when it is directly on the teeth, and fluoride left on the teeth for a few minutes longer provides more benefit.
So when you rinse your teeth with water immediately after brushing, you reduce the beneficial effect of the fluoride. Leave the paste on the teeth, and try to avoid eating or drinking for 10 minutes or more after brushing, as recommended for adults. And what about children? It is recommended to put a tooth play sponge for children under 3 years old, and a pea-sized amount of paste for children between 3 and 6 years old. After brushing, spit out the paste and then rinse your mouth with water.