When you finish brushing your teeth, do you immediately rinse your mouth? If so, you're not alone. Many of us have been taught to rinse thoroughly after brushing to get rid of the toothpaste taste. However, this habit may actually be reducing the effectiveness of your toothpaste.

According to Edmond Hewlett, a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association and a professor at UCLA School of Dentistry, leaving the toothpaste in your mouth for a bit longer allows the fluoride to better protect against tooth decay and gum disease.

So, next time you brush your teeth, try resisting the urge to rinse right away. Instead, let the toothpaste linger in your mouth for a few extra moments, giving the fluoride more time to work its magic. Your teeth will thank you in the long run.

Fluoride is an important ingredient in toothpaste that helps make your tooth enamel harder and more resistant to acids that cause cavities. Hewlett says it's the most well-established effective ingredient in toothpaste, so make sure yours has fluoride.

When brushing your teeth, you clean any film and bacteria from food and sugary drinks. When you go a step further and skip rinsing, you're leaving the fluoride from the toothpaste in your mouth for a longer time, giving you a better effect from the fluoride.

Wait at least 15 minutes after brushing to drink water. After brushing your teeth, Hewlett explains, your saliva will clear the toothpaste out so you won't taste it all day.

If you're just learning about this tip, you may think you've been undoing all your hard work of brushing every day. That's not true. Hewlett says as long as you brush the standard twice a day for 2 minutes each time, the fluoride will remain in your mouth to help protect your teeth.

You're still doing what you need to do to have good oral health and protect your teeth. Not rinsing is just an extra step to help the fluoride be even more effective.

"When you measure a person's fluoride levels in saliva, if they don't rinse, there's more fluoride," Hewlett said. However, it won't be a waste of your time if you rinse. He said research is still being done to determine the difference it makes in the long term to prevent cavities.

There are different risk levels for getting cavities per person, Hewlett said. "If you typically don't get cavities, then you should continue using fluoride toothpaste. The decision to rinse or not to rinse after brushing probably won't make a difference."

On the other hand, for those who struggle with cavities, not rinsing is probably a better decision. Additionally, you should get help from your dentist to find out why you're getting cavities regularly. For instance, it could be your eating habits, snacking on sugary foods or not brushing your teeth regularly. If you're at higher risk for cavities, you should do everything you can to help prevent them.

Most mouthwashes contain less fluoride than toothpaste, so rinsing with mouthwash right after brushing can wash away the concentrated fluoride from your teeth. Instead, use mouthwash at another time, like after lunch or coffee.

Here are some additional tips for keeping your oral health up to par.