August 27th, 2023
9
Are you not supposed to gargle your toothpaste after brushing?
I grew up in a family where you brush your teeth, then before you spit out the mouthful of salivated toothpaste you produced along the way, you gargle it deep in your throat for 30 seconds.
I did this in front of my roommate at college and she told me I was being disgusting. I asked her what she meant and she said the fact that I gargled the brushing byproduct was “horrifying and primitive”. I can’t tell if she’s being an uptight New York private school girl, or if this is really something people don’t do.
August 27th, 2023
9
Comments:
Ratakoa
24
[deleted]
20
Legitimate-Week6274
15
sweenman22
3
[deleted]
5
BobcatClawz
This is what mouthwash is for. When I think about it, I can understand the thought process behind the habit.
But doing the same thing with mouthwash is better in every way. Spit out the toothpaste and the food particles and whatever plaque there was, removing that excess bacteria from the mouth. Gargle with mouthwash so you're not tickling your gag reflex trying to brush the back of your tongue, and not bathing the back of your tongue and throat with that excess bacteria in the process.
3
[deleted]
3
Tarrenshaw
2
CareApart504
2
[deleted]
2
Environmental-Meal14
So let me get this straight.. you brush all the tartar/food debris from your teeth and then gargle it?
That's a hard no for me.
2
iGirthy
2
Repulsive-Ad-4847
3
Here_4_cute_dog_pics
1
ultimate_ampersand
1
KronusIV
There's nothing wrong with gargling. But the noise isn't great, I'd avoid doing in front of people if I had an option. I get that you don't always get that option in college.
That said, I don't know that it's gaining you anything either. I swish, just to be sure I'm getting all the nooks and crannies. Maybe gargling does the same?
0
Propagandapanda81
1
a_sternum
NedRyersonAmIRight
No you're not. The fluoride in the toothpaste is 99% of the benefit
And you should use mouthwash BEFORE you brush not afterwards.
0
217EBroadwayApt4E
0
SmilinPineapple
No
Just no
That’s nasty
0
No_Salamander_902
0
Jolly-Bobcat-2234
0
[deleted]
raspberry_cat55
1
Artistic_Half_8301
1
unwaveringwish
1
The-SkullMan
"Horrifying and primitive" is a bit of an exaggeration but no, you shouldn't do that with toothpaste.
Toothpaste is designed to slightly weaken the outer layer of your teeth in order to allow the brushing to take the foreign material on it, off it.
Gargling serves the purpose of getting a liquid far down the back of your mouth without swallowing. It is done either with mouthwash if you want or if you have some problems with your throat gargling a "seawater" solution can help.
1
[deleted]
After brushing I spit most of it out, then I rinse and swish at least a couple of times with water. Only then I do a quick gargle because the toothpaste gets to the back of your throat and I want as much of that taste out of my mouth as possible.
If I were you, I would not gargle the way you are doing. There will still be tiny bits of pieces of food in your mouth. You maybe making it more likely to get lodged in your throat, causing tonsil stones (which I think you can still get even if you no longer have tonsils). Look up tonsil stones, it's gross.
7
-Lights0ut-
I thought you weren't suppose to rinse with water after you finish brushing. Like you should leave the toothpaste residue on your teeth and in your mouth.
10
217EBroadwayApt4E
First- if you're brushing 2x/day with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing on a regular basis, you're already killing it. There is a "in a perfect world" order to do things, and it's feels a little out of order, but it makes sense.
First, if you're going to use mouthwash, it should be one of the first things you do. Mouthwash is largely unnecessary and doesn't do much in terms of dental health, unless you are prescribed one or encouraged to use one by your dentist for dry mouth or something. But just mouthwash on its own? It's the one part of the routine you can generally ditch. But if you'er going to go keep it, don't make it the last part of your routine. Ending with mouthwash rinses away the fluoride from toothpaste. Toothpaste usually has more fluoride in it than your mouthwash does. It's also just more effective because you literally rub toothpaste on your teeth instead of just swish it around. So, here's the order:
First, floss. Second, use mouthwash if you absolutely feel like you have to in order to have a fresh mouth. Then brush. Finally, spit but don't rinse. Ideally, you want that toothpaste to have contact with your teeth for as long as possible.
But, like I said at the top, those are just kind of details. Brushing with a fluoride toothpaste 2x day and flossing regularly would make most dentists gleeful. Those two things are most of the battle.
4
[deleted]
I only just read that for the first time today on reddit. In 55 years, today was the first time.
I'm not a dentist, so I can't say for sure. Maybe it helps you absorb more, and maybe it does so enough that it would be worth being miserable all your life.
But for me, I think it's harmful to go all day every day with all your food tasting like toothpaste and peppermint. For me, it's gotten to the point where I only brush with toothpaste at night and only use baking soda the rest of the day so that I can actually taste my food to some extent.
1
[deleted]
Baking soda will destroy your enamel. I’d probably cut that out
1
mamaMoonlight21
No way! Rinse!
1
throwaway836205
I mean it’s definitely okay to rinse but there’s a reason the dentist says don’t eat or drink for a little bit after getting a fluoride treatment. It works better if it sits on your teeth more. Think of it like hand soap. If you put the soap on for only 10-15 seconds, that’s not enough time for it to fully do it’s job. Same principle w the toothpaste. If you can’t stand the toothpaste taste, rinse it and then find a fluoride mouthwash in a flavor that is bearable and don’t rinse after that, at least at night.
3
whateverforever589
Ewwwww no gross
1