Having bad breath often promotes the use of mouthwash or fluoride. This mint-flavored liquid can be a quick solution to improve halitosis and bring freshness to the mouth, but is it advisable in a healthy mouth?
While mouthwash is essential for reducing stench in the short term, you may wonder if it offers other benefits for your overall oral health. That is, surely you are interested in knowing if fluoride is a necessary step in the daily routine of dental hygiene.
What does the mouthwash do? positive effects
Mouthwashes with active ingredients, such as fluoride and antimicrobials, can do several things. It is interesting to previously go to a dentist to assess oral health and recommend specific products.
Helps prevent cavities
The fluoride in the mouthwash adds to the enamel surface to make the teeth more resistant to cavities. Arguably, fluoride mouthwash coats your teeth to strengthen them and reduce plaque.
However, this is not a substitute for brushing and toothpaste. It is important to maintain good hygiene with daily cleaning after each meal. Brushing is the only thing that can remove debris between teeth and remove accumulated tartar.
Kills bacteria
Mouthwashes that contain antiseptic ingredients like alcohol and menthol can get into the cracks between your teeth and destroy bacteria that can lead to cavities, bad breath, and gum-related problems. And by killing bad bacteria in your mouth, it inhibits dental plaque (biofilm) on your teeth.
Since it is plaque that causes inflammation of the gums, these mouthwashes will help fight gingivitis. But as we said before, brushing is essential over the use of mouthwash.
Relieves symptoms of dry mouth
Using mouthwash can increase lubrication and decrease discomfort in certain people, especially those with conditions such as dry socket or xerostomia (also known as dry mouth).
However, rinses with alcohol or other antibacterial ingredients can dehydrate the mouth, making the problem in question worse. This is why it is important to speak with a dentist, who can recommend a suitable mouthwash if you are having trouble with these problems.
Who shouldn’t use mouthwash?
Although this oral product contains antimicrobial agents and can help reduce bacteria, it will not solve most of the underlying problems that cause bad breath and other dental conditions. If we have continuous bad breath, it is better to see a dentist to rule out other more serious problems, such as gum disease.
Mouthwashes can have a short-term effect to reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth, but a mouthwash alone cannot eliminate the microbes in the mouth that form the biofilm on the teeth that cause tooth decay and periodontal disease. Also, not all people can use this product, even though it benefits most people. Those who should stay away are:
- Small children. Children under 6 years old should not use rinse. This is because young children, whose swallowing reflexes are not yet fully formed, can swallow considerable amounts of fluoridated fluid, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, and even intoxication.
- People with open sores in the mouth . These people should not use mouthwash unless recommended by a medical professional, as it can harm the healing process.
- People with sensitivity or allergies to certain ingredients. Some people may be sensitive to an alcoholic mouthwash (for example, those with dry mouth or mucositis). In these cases, an alcohol-free mouthwash would be more advisable to use. Additionally, a very small number of people may also be allergic to an ingredient in mouthwash.
When to use mouthwash?
Before taking a drink of mouthwash, always floss and brush with toothpaste. Flossing and brushing first reduces the number of germs on your teeth, making your mouthwash easier to work with. After brushing, it is best to wait three to five minutes to make sure that the fluoride in the toothpaste does not wash off. Remember that it is also recommended to wash your teeth about 20 minutes after eating to prevent the remains from damaging the enamel when brushing.
For a more thorough cleaning, an interdental brush (a device with bristles designed to remove plaque between the teeth) dipped in mouthwash can be used. This will help deliver the mouthwash between the teeth, which we know is an area particularly susceptible to inflammation and bone loss.
Regarding the frequency of use, oral health professionals recommend that it be twice a day, once in the morning and then at night. Although if it is necessary at noon to temporarily get rid of bad breath, it would be fine to use it a third time.
How to find the best one?
To help control or reduce bad breath, gingivitis, plaque, and tooth decay, it is important to check that your chosen mouthwash contains some of the following active ingredients:
- Cetylpyridinium chloride (helps keep bad breath at bay)
- Chlorhexidine or essential oils (both help control plaque and gingivitis)
- Fluoride (helps prevent tooth decay)
- Peroxide (serves as a brightening or bleaching agent)
Although we can find many over-the-counter mouthwashes containing these ingredients in the aisles of your local pharmacy, some (such as those containing chlorhexidine) are available by prescription only and upon direct request from a pharmaceutical laboratory. However, many people prefer not to consume mixtures that contain fluoride, so it is not a necessary product to enjoy good oral health. It is best to go to a dentist to advise us on the best products for the mouth.
