Do I Have to Use Mouthwash?

Although the majority of people understand the importance of brushing and flossing, many still wonder if mouthwash makes any difference. To most people, mouthwash is often the forgotten ingredient in the oral cleaning recipe for success. However, using mouthwash is extremely beneficial to your teeth, tongue, gums and lining of your mouth. Mouthwash can be used to aid a lot of oral hygiene problems—it can freshen breath, decrease dental plaque, prevent tooth decay and help control gingivitis. One thing to remember about mouthwash, as with any other oral hygiene product, is that you must use the right kind in the correct way. Below, I've highlighted a few reasons why mouthwash is so critical to your oral hygiene, as well as a few things to keep in mind when selecting a mouth wash.

·         Using mouthwash in general, even if it doesn't have fluoride, can help reduce your chances  periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the "inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth."

·      Mouthwash increases the effectiveness of brushing and flossing by killing the germs and bacteria that forms in the places that are cleaned.

·        Oftentimes, bits of food get stuck between the teeth, mouthwash helps loosen and remove those particles, when floss can’t get the job done.

·         The fresh-clean mouth feeling you get after rinsing indicates that the mouthwash has done its job. 

·         Mouthwash decreases your chances of getting halitosis throughout the day. 

 ·         Mouthwash can reduce the quantity and quality of the dental plaque and bacteria in your mouth.

·         Select a mouthwash that has the ADA approval sign on the bottle, meaning it actually does what it claims to do.

·         If you suffer from dry mouth, then choose a mouthwash that is alcohol free.