Mouthwash is an essential component of a complete oral hygiene routine. Too many people assume the sole benefit of mouthwash is to freshen breath. The truth is mouthwash benefits the mouth in a number of different ways. Here is a look at why nearly every patient should use mouthwash after flossing and brushing each night.
Mouthwash removes plaque that lingers on the teeth after flossing and brushing. It can also assist in the rinsing of food particles out of your mouth. This is the perfect third and final step of your nightly oral health care regimen. Swish about 20 milliliters of mouthwash each night after you brush and you will enjoy results in due time.
Mouthwash really can cut down on the amount of tartar and plaque on the teeth. It also helps combat early-stage gum disease known as gingivitis. Certain mouthwashes even contain special ingredients to whiten your chompers.
Mouthwash is one of the best ways to cut down on bad breath, also known as halitosis. Bad breath is caused by a variety of factors, ranging from flawed oral hygiene to the consumption of specific foods, the use of medications, smoking, gum disease, dry mouth and certain medical disorders. Mouthwash kills that nasty bacteria that leads to bad breath. It also leaves the mouth smelling quite lovely. Furthermore, mouthwash moistens the mouth and loosens up those lingering food particles that cause bad breath. A moist mouth is important as a dry mouth with a lack of saliva will inevitably smell quite nasty.
The human mouth has between 10 and 50 billion bacteria along the teeth, tongue, gums, lips, and cheeks. A single tooth can host upwards of a billion bacteria. Even those who diligently floss and brush their teeth will likely have 1,000 to 100,000 bacteria along each tooth surface. In fact, once the teeth are brushed, a layer containing protein, saliva and bacteria will form on the surface of the tooth. This functions as a base for bacterial attachment and continued growth. It eventually leads to the onset of dental plaque due to the presence of excess bacteria.
The bottom line is brushing and flossing does not remove all of the bacteria and plaque from your mouth. Mouthwash is important for reaching the crevices and surfaces of the teeth including the tongue, gums and the lining of the lips and cheeks. These are the hard-to-reach areas floss and toothbrushes can't reach.
Some mouthwash critics claim rinses with alcohol are problematic, especially for youngsters who might swallow instead of gargling/swishing. However, the alcohol in mouthwash plays the important role of breaching bacteria cell walls, making them inactive or simply killing them. Dentists often recommend mouthwashes with chlorhexidine as it can eliminate bacteria surprisingly quickly. Dentists also recommend using mouthwash with fluoride as it helps halt and even prevent tooth decay. Just be sure to refrain from eating or drinking for half an hour following the use of mouthwash so this concoction can work its magic.
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