The Benefits of Mouthwash
According to various experts, the use of mouthwash or rinse can be quite a beneficial action to add to your oral and dental maintenance regimen when done in the correct or dentist-recommended manner.
To be more specific, they come with the following benefits and advantages.
*The Bacteria Killer: Mouthwash is designed to kill bacteria. It’s formulated with antimicrobial agents such as essential oils or alcohol. They work to kill most of the bacteria in your mouth, usually 99.9 percent of them.
This bacterial wipe out helps decrease halitosis, bacterial infection, cavity formation, and gum disease. It’s particularly effective when used after flossing and brushing your teeth.
*The Breath Freshener: Mouthwash can also noticeably freshen your breath either with the assistance of mint and deodorizers or by killing the usual root cause of your halitosis, which is rampant bacterial spread.
The mouthwash mostly does its deodorizing by killing the odor-causing bacteria (just like the way underarm deodorant works). It can also mask bad breath with minty fresh ingredients, but total oral cleanup is still your best bet.
*The Gum Disease Fighter: Mouthwash is also known for fighting against gum disease through preventative measures. When used in tandem with flossing and brushing, you’re less likely to suffer from plaque-induced mild gingivitis.
It’s particularly effective in treating bleeding gums and keeping gingivitis from progressing to periodontitis. Gargling mouthwash twice a day or every other day keeps bacteria levels low, which in turn reverses and treats any existing gum and periodontal disease.
*The Cleaner and Deodorizer: The mouthwash, whether it’s cosmetic or therapeutic, is designed to freshen our breath by removing the source of the stink. It’s plaque, tartar, and bacteria that turn the food into acidic content that the mouthwash literally washes away.
To be more specific, the simple act of swishing or gargling the mouthwash (such as Listerine, Colgate, Act, or Crest) inside your mouth for thirty seconds will leave your mouth clean and deodorized as well as minty fresh. The swish technique is a good way to leave your breath clean on short notice!
*Dry Mouth Reducer: You can avail yourself of therapeutic or high-grade prescription brands of mouthwash that help stimulate saliva production in case you have a disease or you’re taking medication that causes dry mouth.
It’s dangerous to leave your mouth dry because saliva is one of the primary oral safeguards you have against bacterial infection and its many complications, including gangrene and sepsis. Gargling therapeutic mouthwash will keep your mouth moist and make you produce more saliva.
*The Plaque Reducer: The best way to remove plaque or starchy film left on the surface of your teeth is still brushing your teeth with a toothbrush and flossing with waxed dental floss. You really need to scrape those layers off!
Regardless, plaque reduction can happen from mouthwash alone, specifically the ones containing fluoride. This ingredient helps reduce buildup of plaque on your enamel surfaces, thus lowering your risk of tooth decay and dental cavities.
*The Debris Remover: Instead of just using plain water to gargle then spit out the food debris and plaque you’ve brushed away with your toothbrush and toothpaste, you can really remove all that loosened up debris with mouthwash.
Mouthwash is better at removing food stuck on and between your teeth as well as all over your tongue and mouth because its ingredients also kill bacteria while doing so. It’s like a weak acid wash or bleaching of your mouth that also carries your leftover food particles once you spit it out.
*The Sensitivity Reducer: There are many ways mouthwash can help reduce your teeth sensitivity if you suffer from that, chief among them is its fluoride ingredient. Bathing your teeth in fluoride ensures cavity protection by reinforcing your enamel.
Fluoride is a mineral that helps enamel grow stronger, just like calcium for your bones. The stronger and denser your enamel, the less sensitive your teeth will become to hot or cold foods. High fluoride levels also reduce overall sensitivity by blocking the sensitive areas of the teeth.
*The Oral Hygiene Enhancer: Mouthwash shouldn’t replace brushing and flossing. It should instead make them more effective. Add mouthwash to make your brushed and flossed teeth extra clean when all is said and done.
When you use it along with regular flossing and brushing, it ensures that the bacteria and plaque you’ve removed die out. Don’t overdo it, though, because some good bacteria should remain in the mouth.
*The Cavity Protector: If you want cavity protection, brush, and floss regularly. Afterwards, add that extra layer of protection by occasionally gargling with OTC or prescription mouthwash that specifically contains fluoride.
This fluoride strengthens teeth enamel like calcium would while also having antibacterial properties to it. Taking more fluoride from your toothpaste to your mouthwash as well as your fluoridated water ensures that the mineral will permeate into your teeth shell to reinforce it.
*The Teeth Whitener: Yes, even cosmetic mouthwash can help whiten your teeth by making your flossing and brushing hygiene regimen more effective, thus yellowish plaque is removed and the much whiter natural tooth color of your enamel is seen.
However, there are special mouthwashes you can avail yourself of by prescription that contain teeth-bleaching ingredients like hydrogen peroxide, which has been shown to effectively and safely brighten your teeth by several shades.
*The Promoter of Good Gum Health: Mouthwash keeps the bacteria population of your mouth low by helping kill plaque-producing germs. This assists in inflammation reduction in the gums as well as gingivitis management.
Sure, its antibiotic properties shouldn’t be overused because your mouth still needs good bacteria (which are allowed to propagate using probiotics). However, mouthwash can cut off bacterial spread efficiently due to its ability to reach areas that flossing and brushing might miss.