Mouthwash: Yea or Nay?

Many of our patients inquire about the best mouthwash or other oral rinses to use in order to compliment their brushing and flossing. This post will explain a few things you should know.

Brushing is meant to do just that, compliment flossing and brushing. In no way should it be considered a replacement for a consistent and thorough brushing and flossing regime. That is the only method for keeping you mouth clean and healthy.

That said, rinsing out your mouth is a good method of removing loose food and debris and is a useful practice after meals. In that respect, it does not really matter what you use to rinse. Water does the job just as well as mouthwash.

If you are going to use mouthwash, there are two main types to consider. We divide oral rinses into two main categories:cosmetic and therapeutic. Most “whitening” and “fresh breath” rinses fall in this category. These contain hydrogen peroxide which may or may not help white teeth (the jury’s still out).

As for fresh breath, no rinse “treats” bad breath. The best these rinses can actually claim is to “mask” bad breath. If someone is having a consistent problem with bad breath, the causes can range from periodontal disease to oral cancer. The only way to be sure is to schedule an examination with a specialist, like a periodontist, to diagnose and treat the condition.

Therapeutic rinses on the other hand are designed to address a particular problem such dry mouth or plaque removal. The active ingredients in these rinses can be fluoride, which aids cavity prevention, or xylitol, which is known to fight tooth decay.

The important thing to remember though is that mouthwash cannot replace brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for professional cleanings. In other words, mouthwash? It doesn’t hurt, but to do the job right, just remember to brush and floss like mom taught you!