Following on from our last post, I though the following might make it a bit easier for you to choose which mouthwash is for you:-
Choosing a Mouth Rinse That’s Right for You
A stroll down the drugstore dental-care aisle can be dizzying, especially with all the mouth rinse products available.
By Connie Brichford
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis, alcohol-free — your pharmacy’s oral health section has dozens of mouth rinse products to choose from, all promising to protect your teeth and gums and freshen your breath.
But how can you know which claims are true? And do you really need to use a mouth wash — or is good brushing and flossing enough?
“There are three major tags [of mouth rinses], from a consumer perspective,” says Michelle Henshaw, DDS, MPH and assistant dean for community partnerships and extramural affairs at Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. These include mouth rinse products that contain fluoride, anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque mouth rinses, and cosmetic mouth rinse products. Some of these mouth rinses are available over-the-counter; others will require a prescription.
Here’s what you should know when shopping for a mouth rinse.
Fluoride-Containing Mouth Rinses
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by helping your body strengthen enamel — the white, harder-than-bone substance that covers teeth. But most people will not require fluoride-containing mouth rinses, says Dr. Henshaw. “You pretty much get that from your fluoridated toothpaste,” she says. But, there are some exceptions.
“People with xerostomia (abnormal dryness of the mouth) might use this kind of mouth rinse, and there are other reasons, like dental caries (cavities),” says Henshaw. Severe dry mouth can lead to a change in the bacterial balance of your mouth, while too much bad bacteria can lead to tooth decay. Fluoride mouth rinses can help prevent these problems.
Check with your dentist if you’re not using fluoride toothpaste. In this case, it might be a good idea to supplement your oral health routine with a fluoride mouth rinse.
Mouth Rinse to Freshen Your Breath
Many mouth rinses are available that make your breath smell good, but, they don’t necessarily offer any long-term dental health benefits.
“Cosmetic rinses reduce mouth odours, or halitosis,” Henshaw says. “Some do kill bacteria for a short time, but there is no lasting health impact that you could ascribe to them.” The bacteria killed by these types of mouth rinses will grow back eventually, and while you’ll have fresh and minty breath in the short-term, these rinses don’t actually improve your oral health.
Anti-Plaque or Anti-Gingivitis Mouth Rinses
“For adults, it’s a good idea to include this kind [of mouth rinse] with brushing and flossing,” Henshaw says. Although brushing and flossing are the key components of good oral health, we don’t always do as good a job with these tasks as we should. Anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis mouth rinses can give a boost to your dental care habits by killing potentially damaging bacteria.
“If it has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval that means that the claims made on the bottle have been verified by an independent scientific body,” Henshaw explains. “These rinses work by killing a different spectrum of bacteria than the breath-freshening rinses,” Henshaw says. Oral bacteria can cause gum disease, so using a rinse that eliminates some of these organisms will help your overall oral health.
For people with more serious oral health concerns, dentists can prescribe stronger mouth rinses. “Another level is available by prescription to fight advanced plaque and gingivitis. This will keep inflammation down,” Henshaw says.
Mouth rinses do serve a purpose, whether to freshen your breath or help fight plaque and gingivitis. But, mouth rinses are not a substitute for regular and effective brushing and flossing. Don’t get lazy with your toothbrush and dental floss. And when choosing a mouth rinse product, pick one that has the ADA seal of approval.
FDA’s Warning to Mouthwash Makers
In September 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned a number of mouthwash producers — including Johnson & Johnson, CVS, and Walgreens — that they needed to stop making “unproven” claims in their packaging. The mouth rinses targeted were mainly those containing sodium fluoride, which has found to be an effective cavity-fighter but ineffective at removing plaque or preventing gum disease.
The above article can be found here:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/101/using-mouth-rinses.aspx
