Should I Rinse My Mouth Out With Water?

At Premier Dental Care in Palmdale & Lancaster, CA, we provide preventative dental services to help our patients improve and maintain their best dental health for many years to come.

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Our doctors provide excellent dental care in two conveniently located dentist offices to ensure our patients have access to the dental care they need. One of our goals is to help patients better understand how to care for their smiles properly outside of the dentist’s office.

Find out when and how you should rinse your mouth out with water, as well as when you should avoid doing so, below:

Saltwater Rinses

If you have undergone an invasive dental procedure, you may have noticed that your aftercare instructions usually mention rinsing your mouth out with saltwater. A homemade saltwater solution can be created by combining ½ a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water. Rinsing your mouth out with salt water helps hurry along the healing process and keep any abrasions or incision sights clean.

When brushing and flossing are uncomfortable around the affected area, a saltwater rinse will do the trick until you are healed enough to continue your standard at-home oral hygiene routine. Remember to avoid rinsing with cold water as this may cause increased sensitivity.

After Midday Meals

Keeping your breath fresh throughout the day is important. However, brushing and flossing are not always convenient activities in the middle of the day. If you are away from home when enjoying midday meals or snacks, remember that you can rinse your mouth out with water to reduce the amount of food residue left behind on your teeth.

Additionally, chewing sugar-free gum will help to dislodge any food particles caught in the in-between spaces of your teeth. By rinsing your mouth out with water when brushing and flossing are not as convenient, you will keep your breath fresh throughout the day until you return home.

After Brushing

Many patients utilize kinds of toothpaste or mouthwash that contain ingredients to reduce plaque and tartar buildup, increased sensitivity, and dental discoloration. These ingredients need to sit on your smile for a while to allow them to perform as intended.

If you rinse your mouth out with water immediately after brushing your teeth or using mouthwash, these ingredients will be washed away as well, causing them to be less effective.

Patients are advised not to rinse their mouth out with water after brushing or using mouthwash. If you are looking for more tips on bettering your overall oral hygiene, schedule an appointment with our dentists in Palmdale & Lancaster CA.