When it comes to taking care of your dental health, you know already that you should brush at least twice a day and floss once, usually at night – but these two mainstays aren't all you can do to ensure that your teeth and tongue are up to snuff. People all over the world have been using mouthwash in some form or another since around 2700 B.C., but that ancient Chinese formula has come a long way since then. So if you're wondering if mouthwash is really worth it and what types of mouthwash will benefit your oral health the most, then here's what you need to know.
The Basics
Mouthwash began its life in ancient China, where a mixture of a sort of "doughy water" and olive oil were mixed together and swished around in the mouth. The Native American tribes, several centuries later, employed the use of a salt and water rinse in order to cure mouth ulcers, sore throats, and pain from teething. Mouthwashes really only became effective in the way they are today when a Danish dental professor named Harald Loe proved that the right chemical compound could prevent plaque from forming; ever since then, scientists have worked to improve on his formula, refining it and adding flavorings to make it appeal more to the public.
The Ingredient
The big debate with mouthwash tends to be whether its formulas should include alcohol or not. Mouthwashes with alcohol employ the substance as a carrier for the flavor of the mouthwash – it provides that bite or burn you feel at the back of your throat after rinsing and/or gargling with alcohol-containing mouthwash. However, as alcohol is a drying agent, it can dry out your mouth, which contributes to chronic bad breath – ironically, the thing that lots of people are attempting to avoid with mouthwash. Because of this, many companies are now making alcohol-free solutions, appealing not only to those who suffer from halitosis but also people who prefer not to consume alcohol or those who don't want their kids anywhere near the stuff.
The Benefits
Unlike brushing or flossing, mouthwash does very little to actually clean your teeth – at most, it could dislodge food stuck in one of the many crevasses of your mouth. Mouthwash's benefit is in its preventative abilities; while most of the bacteria in your mouth are harmless, there are a few nasty strains that can cause sicknesses and cavities – and mouthwash helps not only to kill those strains of bacteria, but to protect your health by preventing them from growing in the first place. In order to help your mouthwash actually do its job, it needs to stay on your teeth – so, just like with brushing, don't rinse with water after swishing and spitting.
For more information, contact dental experts, like those from Tots to Teens Dental.
Share20 October 2016
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.