Should You Be Using Mouthwash?

Brushing and flossing on a regular basis is a great way to maintain good oral hygiene. Do you also need to add mouthwash to your oral care routine? Knowing the kinds of benefits mouthwash provides can help you decide if it’s right for you. Consider the following when you’re trying to determine if you should use mouthwash. Keep in mind that rinsing with mouthwash doesn’t mean you can skip brushing and flossing your teeth regularly. You’ll still need to do these each day for healthy teeth and gums.

Mouthwash for Fresh Breath

One of the more common reasons people choose to use mouthwash is to get fresh breath. Rinsing with mouthwash after brushing your teeth can give your mouth a clean feeling while also freshening your breath right away. Brushing with toothpaste and using floss coated with mint can also improve your breath, but mouthwash can give it an extra burst of freshness. Mouthwashes typically have a more powerful flavor compared to toothpaste and floss. You can use mouthwash for fresh breath on a regular basis, or rinse with it as part of your oral care routine after eating foods with a strong, lingering flavor, such as onions or garlic.

Mouthwash to Reduce Bacteria

Brushing and flossing twice a day goes a long way toward keeping your gums and teeth clean. However, there are some areas of your mouth that they don’t reach. Mouthwash can help you keep these areas cleaner since it’s able to reach them when you swish and gargle. This can help lower the amount of harmful bacteria you have in your mouth. Keep in mind that these bacteria can cause bad breath and plaque formation. Rinsing them away with mouthwash can add another layer of protection against plaque while also preventing bad breath from occurring. Mouthwash can help remove bacteria that you might have missed while brushing and flossing, in addition to eliminating bacteria in other areas of your mouth.

Mouthwash with Fluoride 

Fluoride plays an important role in lowering the risk of tooth decay. You might get fluoride treatments during dental cleanings, and local water supplies often include a certain amount of fluoride. This mineral helps make tooth enamel stronger, giving your teeth more protection from bacteria, plaque, and decay. Tooth enamel can erode over time and leave your teeth more vulnerable to decay, but fluoride can help eliminate this problem. If you have worn tooth enamel or have a higher risk of tooth decay, mouthwash products with fluoride can help protect your teeth. Rinsing with this type of fluoride on a regular basis helps strengthen tooth enamel and reduces your risk of decay.

Choosing a Mouthwash

Which kind of mouth rinse should you use if you decide to make it part of your daily oral health care routine? The kind that works best for you can depend on why you’re using it in the first place. If you just want fresh breath or a clean feeling in your mouth after brushing and flossing, you can choose any mouthwash recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). Look for the ADA label on these mouthwash products. These ADA-recommended products can also work if you want to reduce bacteria in your mouth for healthy gums and teeth.

If you’re looking for a mouthwash that helps with a certain condition, such as easing dry mouth or preventing tooth decay or gum disease, talk to your dentist. Dentists can recommend specific mouthwash products that provide these benefits, such as mouthwash with fluoride. You’ll also find mouthwashes that help whiten teeth, but these products don’t work as well as professional whitening.

How to Use Mouthwash

To get the most out of your mouthwash, it’s important to use it correctly. This means using it after you’re done brushing and flossing. When you have mouthwash in your mouth, you should swish it around for about 30 seconds to a minute at the most before spitting it out. Avoid swallowing mouthwash, since this can lead to an upset stomach and other issues, such as diarrhea, depending on how much you accidentally consume. When you’re done using mouthwash, you shouldn’t drink or eat anything for about 30 minutes. This gives mouthwash a chance to work at eliminating bacteria.

Scheduling Your Dental Cleaning

When used along with brushing and flossing, mouthwash can give you a good way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. However, you also need to have regular dental cleanings done to remove tartar and plaque. Please contact Cedar Walk Dentistry to schedule an appointment for your next dental cleaning.