Sun City Dentist: Mouthwash, a double edged sword

Mouthwash has pros and cons just like everything, but most people don’t consider all of the possibilities. This article will point out all the benefits and risks associated with mouthwash.

Every now and again we sleep in late or miss our alarms and that makes for a fast paced morning to rush to work, school or wherever else we have to go. Some people will cut corners by rinsing with mouthwash instead of properly brushing their teeth. But what happens when the minty effects wear off?

Cover Up

Mouthwash is great for many different things however it is not designed to replace flossing. For instance, swishing mouthwash instead of brushing is like using gum after eating something with onions. The smell is masked at first but once it wears off you’re no better off than before.

Proper mouthwash technique is to be used in conjunction with a brushing and flossing routine. It is also necessary to visit your Sun City dentist at least twice a year. This will allow for the best results.

Fighting Bacteria

Not all mouthwashes have the same ingredients and they tend to focus on different problems within the oral health category. There are three main types of mouthwashes; salt water, fluoride, and alcohol based.

Saltwater rinses are very simple to make at home with table salt and warm water. Most people will use these when it is dentist recommended after surgery or other oral problems.

Alcohol or Listerine based rinses are best for fighting off bacteria that can develop into periodontal disease. Periodontal disease creates rapid tooth decay and a need for dental implants. If you have a higher risk for periodontal disease, than Listerine mouthwash is the best choice.

High fluoride rinses are the best solution for people who tend to get a lot of cavities. Dentists use fluoride during their appointments to get the plaque that brushing can’t. However their fluoride content is much higher than any mouthwash will be.

The Negatives

One con that was mentioned earlier is that it only masks the bad breath. This is not a solution to all of your oral health problems it is merely another avenue to help.

Some people will also use mouthwash to sooth their canker sores. This can help as long as the alcohol content isn’t too high.  With a higher dose of alcohol it will actually irritate the sore more so it is important to choose carefully.

Another speculation is that mouthwash use can be linked to oral cancer. Many different studies have been done to try and prove this hypothesis but nothing has been concrete.

There are certain brands with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval on them that undergo extensive tests to ensure safety. So if you are concerned about the possibility of increasing your oral cancer risk there are approved mouthwashes for you.

Overall mouthwash cannot be substituted for good oral hygiene. They are simply used to enhance your oral health.