Stop Rinsing After Brushing Your Teeth. Here's Why You Should Wait Instead.

Anna Gragert (she/her/hers) was previously the lifestyle editor at HelloGiggles, deputy editor at So Yummy and senior lifestyle editor at Hunker. Over the past 10+ years, Anna has also written for the L.A. Times, Elle, Bust Magazine, Dazed, Apartment Therapy, Well+Good and more, focusing on all things lifestyle, health and wellness.

It's standard practice: You brush your teeth for 2 minutes with a toothbrush and toothpaste, then spit and rinse with either water or mouthwash. However, it turns out holding off on rinsing may be key to keeping your teeth healthy -- especially if you're prone to cavities. To find out why we should stop rinsing our mouths immediately after brushing our teeth, we consulted two dentists for their expert insights.