10 May Healthy Mouths Love Mouthwash

Mouthwash is a liquid solution used to rinse debris and bacteria form the mouth through gargling and/or swishing. When you use mouthwash, you clean your mouth and kill bacteria that can lead to the onset of gingivitis and periodontitis.

It’s important to remove plaque and debris from your teeth daily so that they don’t form tartar and lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Rinsing with mouthwash, in combination with teeth brushing and flossing, can help you prevent plaque buildup and subsequent gum diseases.

While some mouthwashes only freshen your breath, many mouthwashes are made to destroy the harmful bacteria in your mouth and freshen your breath. The bacteria-killing kind of mouthwash will usually have the word “antiseptic” printed on the label and are referred to as therapeutic mouthwashes. Mouthwashes that solely freshen breath are cosmetic mouthwashes. Therapeutic mouthwash solutions often contain compounds that serve positive side effects such as teeth whitening and cavity control. Some mouthwashes treat dry mouth, fungal growth, and inflammation.

Using mouthwash could be a great addition to your dental health routine if you have a hard time brushing and flossing as often as you need to. Though it’s in no way a total substitute, rinsing with mouthwash has some of the same effects as brushing and flossing, namely removing plaque and debris from your mouth. Of course, we still recommend trying your hardest to brush and floss your teeth every day in addition to using mouthwash!

Dr. Audrey Kemp and the team here at Bull City Dental are excited to answer any further questions you have about mouthwash. Call us now at 919-680-3531 to schedule an appointment in our Durham, North Carolina, office. We’re excited to see you soon!