The Role of Mouthwash in Your Oral Care Routine
Many mouthwash products are designed to freshen your breath, but others target specific therapeutic effects. Choosing the right mouthwash and using it daily can help you tackle persistent dental issues. Of course, you’ll achieve the best results by discussing your concerns with your dentist first. You can find plenty of over-the-counter products at your local drugstore, but a prescription mouthwash may deliver better results. Here’s what you can expect when you integrate rinses and mouthwashes into your oral care routine.
How Can Mouthwash Help Your Dental Health?
Most mouthwash products contain at least one active ingredient that kills bacteria. Swishing a liquid through your mouth helps reach areas missed by even the best toothbrush, making it an effective way to control bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities. Rinsing your mouth after meals helps dislodge food debris and reduce bacterial growth, especially when brushing your teeth isn’t possible. While not all patients will benefit from regular use of a therapeutic mouthwash, most will at least notice fresher breath.
What Types of Mouthwash Are Available?
Most mouthwash products, even those sold over the counter, are designed for specific uses. This applies only if you choose a mouthwash with an active ingredient. Rinses without active ingredients are cosmetic, offering only temporary breath freshening. While these work in a pinch before a big meeting or date, they don’t offer much benefit for your oral health.
Therapeutic mouthwashes typically target one or more of the following dental concerns:
- Loosening hardened plaque for easier removal during brushing
- Killing bacteria under the gum line or between teeth, where toothbrushes can’t reach
- Combating early-stage gum disease by killing bacteria and encouraging gum tissue to tighten around the teeth
- Relieving pain from cavities, gum abscesses, or other oral damage
- Whitening teeth by lifting surface stains
- Strengthening teeth by providing fluoride that is easily absorbed
Some of these benefits are available only through prescription mouthwash products. To fight gingivitis, for example, you’ll need your dentist’s approval to get the appropriate rinse to restore pockets around the roots of your teeth.
Can All Dental Patients Use Mouthwash?
Most mouthwash products aren’t recommended for children under 6. Some may have a higher recommended age due to the risk of swallowing the rinse. If you’re dealing with serious oral health issues, such as gum disease, a missing tooth with an open socket, or bleeding, avoid mouthwash unless your dentist advises otherwise. You may need a different alcohol-free product or a specific ingredient to address your condition without harming sensitive tissue in your mouth.
How to Use Prescription Mouthwashes Correctly
When you buy a rinse from the grocery store or pharmacy, it doesn’t matter if you use it daily or as needed. Prescription mouthwashes, however, require you to follow your dentist’s instructions without missing doses. In most cases, you’ll use a prescribed oral rinse one to three times a day at specific times. If you miss a dose, don’t double up. Take the next dose at the scheduled time and inform your dentist of the missed dose. They can help adjust your treatment plan to keep you on track, which may include increasing or decreasing the frequency of use.
Rinsing with water can help loosen food particles, but it can’t match the breath-freshening and plaque-loosening effects of the right mouthwash. Talk to your dentist about your use of rinse products during your next visit and see if you could make any adjustments to get better results.