Oral hygiene is essential for maintaining a healthy mouth, and while brushing and flossing are the most important practices, many people wonder whether mouthwash is necessary. In this article, we will discuss the role of mouthwash in Oral Hygiene.
What are the Benefits of Mouthwash?
There are several benefits of mouthwash. It can be a helpful addition to your oral hygiene regimen, but most importantly, it should be understood for what it is intended. It mainly reduces bacteria in the mouth, thereby preventing plaque, diseases of various types in the gum, and bad breath. Some contain fluoride, which strengthens teeth and reduces cavity risk.
Mouthwash is, in fact, a help for people with certain oral health problems, such as gum disease, or those at high risk of developing cavities. Antibacterial mouthwashes help reduce the bacteria that cause gum disease, whereas fluoride mouth rinses strengthen the enamel and reduce the risk of decay.
Mouthwash also proves to be very effective when brushing and flossing are not possible. For example, when it is taken after meals, it usually cleans away the food particles and freshens your breath.
How to Choose the Right Mouthwash?
When using mouthwash, it is always important to choose the best mouthwash, the one that is right for you. The different types of mouthwash serve different purposes; hence, you must choose the one that will help you the most.
- For Fresh Breath: If your main goal is just to freshen your breath, then a product such as Listerine Cool Mint can be effective. It works at killing bacteria that cause bad breath and leaves the mouth fresh and clean.
- For Gum Health: If you are a person prone to gum problems, look for an antibacterial mouthwash. These help to decrease the bacteria that cause plaque and gingivitis, which can turn into more serious gum disease if not treated.
- For Cavity Prevention: Fluoride mouthwashes are designed to help strengthen teeth enamel, preventing cavities from forming. These are especially useful for those individuals who have a high risk of tooth decay or aren’t receiving adequate amounts elsewhere.
- Another important factor in mouthwash selection is its ingredients. Mouthwashes have alcohol in their formula, and it may possibly predispose a patient to the condition of dry mouth or irritate sensitive gum. If you are concerned with sensitive teeth or gums or have concerns with alcohol content, choose an alcohol-free mouthwash like Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse.
Some Popular Mouthwash
Hexidine Mouthwash
Hexidine Mouthwash is used to treat gums inflammation. It kills dangerous germs in the mouth that produce swollen gums, tartar, and a bad smell. It cleanses the afflicted area and promotes healing.
Betadine Mouthwash
Betadine Mouthwash is an antiseptic and disinfectant substance used in mouthwash to destroy germs that cause oral infections. It also soothes dry mouth and throat pain.
Coolora Mouthwash
Coolora Mouthwash is a pain relief medication. It relieves pain, irritation, and inflammation in the oral cavity, gums, and throat.
Benzydamine Mouthwash
Benzydamine Mouthwash is prescribed to treat pain and inflammation (redness and swelling) in your mouth, gums, and throat.
Clohex Mouthwash
Clohex Mouthwash treats gum inflammation. It eliminates harmful germs in the oral cavity that cause sore gums, tartar, and bad breath. It cleans the affected part and accelerates recovery.
Cons of Mouthwash
Then again, with every benefit comes a downside, so it is with mouthwash. Some mouthwashes contain extremely high concentrations of alcohol. High levels of alcohol are notably drying to the mouth. A dry mouth is not only an annoying condition but may also help promote bad breath and increase the risk of cavities as well since saliva is vital in the mechanical washing of food particles and neutralizing of acids in the mouth.
Sometimes, mouthwash compounds may be irritating, especially to highly sensitive gums or for those people who have allergic reactions concerning the components of the product. You should read the label and consult your doctor in case of discomfort or hesitations about using the mouthwash.
Moreover, mouthwash should not replace brushing and flossing. While it reduces bacteria and freshens your breath, it does not eliminate plaque as effectively as the latter. This means that taking mouthwash is relevant as a complement and not a replacement for those usual oral habits.
How to Effectively Use Mouthwash
For full benefit from mouthwash, there is a need to apply it properly. The following suggestions can help in the effective usage of the mouthwash:
1. Sufficient Amount: Take the mouthwash as instructed by the product for application. This is usually 20 milliliters, about 4 teaspoons.
2. Swish Long Enough: Most mouthwashes have instructions to swish the liquid in your mouth for about 30 seconds because this is the estimated amount of time needed for the formula to kill bacteria and freshen your breath.
3. Avoid Water Rinsing: When you need to rinse your mouth out after a mouthwash, avoid immediately doing so. This will just wash out the active ingredients and further affect its action inefficient.
4. Use Mouthwash at the Right Time: Generally, it’s used after brushing and flossing to get to those remaining parts that brushing and flossing missed. However, in case you use a fluoride rinse, First brush with a fluoride-free toothpaste, and make sure fluorides are not washed away.
For best results, use mouthwash regularly. Once or twice a day is usually sufficient, but follow your dentist’s recommendations based on your specific oral health needs.
Conclusion
Mouthwash can be a great addition to your oral hygiene routine, offering fresher breath, reducing bacteria, and strengthening teeth. It is not necessary for all. The most important aspects of oral hygiene include daily brushing and flossing, as well as a healthy diet and regular dental check-ups.
If you think of adding mouthwash to your routine, consulting with your dentist is a good place to start. They can give you the best advice about your oral health needs and tell you which the best mouthwash will be for you. In the end, it goes without saying that a healthy mouth can be maintained only by following a proper oral hygiene routine consistently.