After brushing with fluoride toothpaste, spit out the excess rather than rinsing straight away with water. That is the advice in the NHS Mouth Care Matters animation below. It is a small change to the end of your routine, but an easy one to overlook if you have always reached for a glass of water.

This guide focuses on that final step. It also explains how to use the video as a practical reminder, what it does not tell you about an individual dental problem, and which questions to take to your dentist or hygienist.

Watch the NHS Mouth Care Matters demonstration

How to Brush Your Teeth Animation MCM, from NHS England Workforce, Training and Education, was uploaded on 17 October 2018. The demonstration covers brushing your own teeth and helping another person with brushing.

The key takeaways from the video

The animation recommends brushing twice daily for two minutes, including last thing at night. It demonstrates working around the outer, inner and biting surfaces, with attention to the gum line. At the end, it shows spitting out the remaining toothpaste without rinsing with water or mouthwash, so fluoride can continue protecting the teeth.

Watching the sequence is useful if you tend to spend most of your time on the easiest surfaces. Try using it to think about your route around the mouth, rather than treating a quick pass across the front teeth as a complete routine.

Why not rinse the toothpaste away?

The NHS teeth-cleaning guide explains that rinsing immediately washes away concentrated fluoride left on the teeth and reduces its preventive effect. It also advises using mouthwash at a different time rather than straight after brushing.

That does not make mouthwash a substitute for brushing. If a clinician has prescribed a particular product or given you individual instructions, follow those instructions and ask about timing if you are unsure. A general animation cannot account for every treatment plan.

Make the final step easier to remember

Put a short reminder near your toothbrush: “brush, spit, finish”. If you share a bathroom, explain the change so another family member does not automatically hand you a rinsing cup. Choose a reminder that fits your own routine without turning it into another complicated task.

You can also separate brushing from other bathroom habits. Preparing the brush and toothpaste first, using a timer and finishing with the same simple action each time can make the routine easier to repeat. These are organisational suggestions, rather than a promise about your dental health.

When personal help is more useful than a video

If you find brushing difficult, ask your dental team to demonstrate a technique and suitable equipment for you. If you support someone else, ask how to help safely and respectfully. Swallowing problems, difficulty opening the mouth or problems handling a brush need individual advice.

Do not use the video to diagnose bleeding, pain or a change in your mouth. Tell your dental professional about symptoms and ask what needs assessment. The demonstration teaches a routine; it does not examine your teeth.

Bring one useful question to your next visit

Write down the part you find hardest, such as reaching behind the front teeth or knowing when to use a recommended mouthwash. A specific question makes it easier for the team to show you a practical adjustment.

For more context, see our general dental care tips and guide to booking a dental consultation. This article is general information and does not replace advice for your own care. The photographs are illustrative; the featured image is credited to Harold Hizon / Unsplash above.