Is Mouthwash Necessary For My Oral Health? What You Need To Know

Whether you already use mouthwash as part of your oral hygiene routine, or you’re considering incorporating mouthwash into your daily teeth cleaning regimen, you might be wondering if it’s actually effective. Does it do anything, and is it really necessary to keep your teeth and gums healthy? Find out in this blog from Vivid Smiles now! 

Mouthwash Is Useful And Effective, But Not A Substitute For Brushing Or Flossing 

Mouthwash is not necessary for your oral health. It’s not a substitute for brushing and flossing, and if you brush at least twice a day for two minutes and you floss once a day, chances are that using mouthwash regularly will not make a huge difference.

Brushing and flossing are more effective than mouthwash because they involve direct contact with the surfaces of your teeth. The friction and motion of brushing and flossing helps remove bacteria, plaque, food debris, and acid. While mouthwash can be helpful for your oral health, it doesn’t involve the same level of contact with your teeth, and it simply can’t remove the same level of plaque and bacteria from your mouth.

That’s not to say it’s useless, however. If you incorporate it into your oral hygiene routine alongside brushing and flossing, mouthwash can kill bacteria in your mouth, strengthen your teeth, and prevent gum disease. Clinical studies have shown that using mouthwash can eliminate bacteria that cause gingivitis, and improve your oral health.

How To Use Mouthwash – Our Recommendations

So, how should you use mouthwash if you choose to incorporate it into your oral hygiene routine? Here are a few of our recommendations.

• Wait at least 30 minutes after brushing – Some people rinse their mouths with mouthwash and/or water immediately after brushing. But this is not the best way to use mouthwash.This is because toothpaste contains fluoride, which must sit on your teeth for a few minutes to strengthen them and keep them healthy. If you rinse the fluoride from your toothpaste away right after brushing, you won’t get its full benefits. For this reason, you should rinse with mouthwash at least 30 minutes after brushing your teeth.‍
• Rinse with mouthwash after flossing – This is a great way to use mouthwash. If you floss separately from brushing, you can rinse your mouth with mouthwash to help remove the food particles you’ve loosened while flossing, freshen your breath, and keep your mouth clean.
• Use mouthwash at lunch or after other meals & snacks – It’s a good idea to brush after every meal, but this isn’t always possible, so you can incorporate mouthwash as a substitute. A quick rinse with mouthwash will help kill bacteria and remove food particles, preventing plaque and acid buildup in your mouth.
  

Know The Truth About Mouthwash And Oral Care! 

We hope this blog has helped you learn more about mouthwash. Adding mouthwash into your oral hygiene routine will help keep your breath fresh and can help kill bacteria, as long as you maintain proper brushing and flossing habits, so feel free to do so. 

Want more information about proper dental care? Overdue for a teeth cleaning and oral exam in Terre Haute? At Vivid Smiles, Dr. Roshini Durga Paruchuri and Dr. Nilanchal Sahai are here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (812) 803-2340 to schedule your appointment, and take control of your oral health.