Current advice is actually to not rinse after brushing, as you're meant to let the fluoride of the toothpaste sit against your teeth for thirty minutes.

Unfortunately, I would recommend not losing sleep over either source of microplastics (chewing gum or toothbrushes), until tires and synthetic clothing are done away with by society. Those are much MUCH bigger, inescapable sources of microplastics

[–] CitizenKong@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Isn't it mostly tires? Which is just another reason humanity has to be cured of this insane car-craziness.

[–] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 5 points 3 days ago

Tires are there biggest ones, yeah, but number two is shedding from synthetic clothing creation and laundering

[–] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I think micro plastics are in all the water everywhere.

[–] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

We're talking about their major sources, not where they're now consequently found

[–] shekau@lemmy.today 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Why tires? Pls explain?

[–] iheartneopets@lemm.ee 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Because that's what tires are made out of, and they wear away as you drive (that's why you need to replace tires every so often as the treads wear away). That material doesn't just disappear, it gets ground down and dispersed into the environment as they're used.

It's one reason why electric cars aren't a great solution for anyone but car manufacturers—the tires. They'll cut down on fossil fuel use and fuel emissions, yes, but that's not the only way cars pollute.

EDIT: Also, thank you for asking! Always happy to explain :)

[–] Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

yea i heard that trick too, unfortunately it can cause perioral dermatitis in people, especially some toothpastes. because it tends to seep out of your lips and sits in the corner irritating the lips.