You’ve got lots of choices if you’re looking for a way to freshen your breath. But if you want to do something healthy for your teeth and gums too, make the mouth rinse part of your daily routine.
“Today mouthwashes are not just perfumes for the breath,” says Mark Wolff, DDS, Ph.D., chair of cariology and comprehensive care at New York University College of Dentistry. “They can also reduce gingivitis [gum disease], tooth decay, tartar, and plaque, and they can whiten.”
A good daily mouth care routine is necessary for your dental health. Brushing your teeth at least twice daily, flossing daily, and using mouthwash is a healthy habit for most people. But is mouthwash necessary? The answer is a qualified yes!
WHY USE A MOUTHWASH?
Mouthwash gives your mouth a clean, fresh feeling and reassures you that your breath is fresh. It also has benefits for your overall oral health. Using mouthwash helps reduce the bacteria in your mouth, which reduces the amount of dental plaque that forms.
If you brush your teeth well, twice a day, and floss daily, mouthwash is not strictly necessary. However, most dentists highly recommend adding mouthwash to your morning and evening routine.
WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH?
Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be embarrassing and in some cases may even cause anxiety. It’s no wonder that store shelves are overflowing with gum, mints, mouthwashes, and other products designed to fight bad breath. But many of these products are only temporary measures because they don’t address the cause of the problem.
Certain foods, health conditions, and habits are among the causes of bad breath. In many cases, you can improve bad breath with consistent proper dental hygiene.
However, underlying medical conditions may also lead to bad breath, and such situations require a little more care. Some may suffer from chronic dry mouth or may find themselves dealing with similar side effects due to medications. In these instances, specialized mouthwashes often help a great deal. Oral surgeries, chronic sinus inflammation, and acid reflux sometimes lead to bad breath, and in these cases, consult with a physician prior to attempting to treat the symptoms on your own.
HOW TO USE MOUTHWASH
Here are the basic instructions for most kinds of mouthwash.
- Brush your teeth first
Start by thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth.
If you’re brushing with fluoride toothpaste, wait a while before using mouthwash. The mouthwash can wash away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste.
- How much mouthwash to use
Pour your oral rinse of choice into the cup provided with the product or a plastic measuring cup. Use only as much mouthwash as the product instructs you to use. It’s typically between 3 and 5 teaspoons.
- Ready, set, rinse
Empty the cup into your mouth and swish it around. Don’t swallow it. Mouthwash isn’t meant for ingesting, and it won’t work if you drink it.
While you’re rinsing, gargle for 30 seconds. You may want to set a watch or try to count to 30 in your head.
- Spit it out
Spit the mouthwash out into the sink.
PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE
Every mouth is different, and you may react to a mouthwash. If you have not already, you should discuss the best way to care for your mouth with your dentist or dental hygienist. At Choice Dental, we welcome the opportunity to help you better understand your mouth.