Almost everyone has learnt to brush their teeth this way. The toothbrush is wetted and the mouth is rinsed thoroughly with water after brushing. However, experts say that toothpaste should remain in the mouth after brushing.

 

During brushing, protective agents are left on the surface of the teeth. These protect the teeth from acids in food. If the mouth is rinsed with water immediately after brushing, a large part of the protective effect is lost.

It is better for the teeth to spit out the excess toothpaste after brushing, but not to rinse it out. This will provide several hours of protection for the enamel. Saliva will dilute the toothpaste within the next few hours.
You should not drink anything for at least half an hour. Even if the flavour is unfamiliar at first, you will soon get used to it.

It is also better not to wet the toothbrush before brushing, as this dilutes the toothpaste and reduces its effectiveness.

Never brush your teeth immediately after eating! Sugar and acids temporarily weaken the tooth enamel so that brushing can damage it.
It is ideal to brush your teeth half an hour before breakfast, as teeth are particularly susceptible to acids in the morning. The calcium level in saliva is particularly low in the morning. Also brush your teeth later on for about half an hour before meals. If you want to freshen up your mouth after eating, you should use an alcohol-free mouthwash.

However, it is important to use a fluoride-free toothpaste if you keep it in your mouth for a long time after brushing your teeth. Too much fluoride is toxic to humans. The fact that the toothpaste remains in the mouth and is not rinsed out means that the fluoride in toothpaste containing fluoride enters the bloodstream. It is best to buy fluoride-free toothpaste from a health food shop, for example "Silicea" from Weleda.

Photo: Thegreenj