Mouthwash - Is It Worth It?

Mouthwashes play a huge role in day-to-day oral hygiene routine. They don’t just help you get rid of bad breath but also improve your dental health. With daily use of a mouthwash, fine debris left out after brushing and flossing can be flushed out easily. This can help prevent decay and disease from teeth and gums.

What are the benefits of mouthwash?

Mouthwashes have several benefits that include:

• Destroys bad bacteria and gives fresh breath
• Cleans roof of your mouth
• Cleans your tongue
• Cleans your inner cheeks

Mouthwash containing fluoride adds more protection to teeth for fighting against cavities by getting down in the small spaces your brush cannot reach. 

What happens with its overuse?

Alcohol is one of the main ingredients in mouthwash. Even though it destroys oral bacteria, but overusing it, can harm your gums, inner cheeks, and tongue. This drying property of alcohol absorbs the moisture and dries out your mouth, which can cause cracking, swelling, and discomfort.

Overusing mouthwash containing fluoride will do more harm than good, as that won’t be a healthy option for your body.

Some mouthwashes use another form of chloride instead of alcohol. But with overuse, these chemicals may end up staining your teeth that can only be removed through professional cleaning.

How often should you use mouthwash?

Dentists usually recommend using mouthwash after brushing teeth. If used more than two times a day, it may harm the health of your teeth. Always keep this in mind that never swallow mouthwash.

What should you look into while buying a mouthwash?

While getting a mouthwash, look into the following:

• Check the label and select a mouthwash that kills bacteria. There might be products that only work to clean bad breath and do nothing to kill bacteria for the protection of your teeth. 
• If you do not want to use a mouthwash with alcohol content, then you can choose an alcohol-free one. 
• It would be better if you choose a mouthwash with fluoride in it. It would be more beneficial to your teeth. However, children should use a mouthwash containing fluoride.
• If a mouthwash claims to be for whitening teeth then, you should check the label to find the active ingredients. If it isn’t antibacterial mouthwash, it may not be a good choice for you.
• Look for ADA seal in the label of the mouthwash. Choose the ones with ADA seal of approval as those products would meet proper dental care standards.

To know more, call us at (541) 928-6622 or visit us at our office to schedule an appointment with our dentist.