Should You Use Mouthwash?

One of the most common questions that dentists are asked is, “Should I use mouthwash?” There is no one-sized answer to this question, but keep reading to see if you may be one who could benefit from mouthwash.

The first thing to understand is that mouthwash was not meant to be a necessary component of oral hygiene. Flossing daily and brushing your teeth at least twice a day are enough. Floss removes plaque from the gum line and trapped between the teeth. Plaque is laden with bacteria and is what causes most of the damage inside a mouth. Brushing with a toothbrush helps remove the plaque that was loosened so that it can be spat out of the mouth. Therefore, the easy answer is this: If you floss daily and brush regularly, you probably don’t need to use mouthwash. However, if you do not floss daily, then adding mouthwash to your oral health routine will be beneficial.

Bacteria laden plaque eats away at tooth enamel. Even though enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, the bacteria within plaque produce acids that destroy the teeth surfaces. Using a mouthwash with the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval will ensure that you have the ingredients necessary to kill bacteria within your mouth. Mouthwash will also help to freshen bad breath, which is a notorious side effect of a mouth full of plaque.

Women who are pregnant can also hugely benefit from using mouthwash. During pregnancy, the gums are vulnerable to infection due to high fluctuations in hormone levels. Any type of infection present within an expectant mother’s body has the potential to be passed through the bloodstream to the growing baby within the womb. Using mouthwash throughout pregnancy can keep bacteria at bay and decrease the risk of oral infection.

At Gwinnett Family Dental Care, we encourage you to take optimal care of your mouth. Mouthwash should not be used as a substitute for proper oral hygiene, but adding it to your daily routine can help you maintain a healthy smile.