5 Benefits of Mouthwash

Got mouthwash? If not, you should! Establishing and committing to a solid oral healthcare routine is critical to, well, your oral health. This will typically begin with flossing your teeth followed by properly brushing your teeth. Remember to try to perform both flossing and brushing at least two times per day. 

In addition to these cornerstone actions of oral health, you’ll also want to remember to brush your tongue. Why? Our tongues are bacteria magnets, and if we don’t brush our tongues, then your sense of taste may dissipate and you may experience bad breath. 

Here are 5 benefits of using mouthwash:

• Mouthwash can help to prevent cavities: Believe it or not, it’s still possible to get cavities even if you’re adhering to a regular oral hygiene routine. Incorporating mouthwash can add another cavity prevention measure to your oral hygiene routine. Many mouthwash brands contain fluoride, which helps to strengthen your tooth enamel and slow the progression of cavities.

• Mouthwash can help to freshen your breath: This is probably the most common reason that people purchase and use mouthwash. Who doesn’t love a minty fresh sensation lingering in their mouths? Mouthwash works to kill bacteria that cause bad breath, and can leave your mouth feeling cleaner and fresher than it would if you just brushed and flossed.

• Mouthwash can have a positive impact on canker sores: Canker sores aren’t fun. The good news is that mouthwash can help to clear them up in a relatively quick period of time. In this case, refrain from using a mouthwash with alcohol because this may irritate or hurt the canker sore more than help it. 

• Mouthwash can help to reduce plaque: Although brushing and flossing are your first lines of defense against pesky plaque, mouthwash acts as a reinforcer in the effort to reduce it. There are different types of mouthwash available that work to limit the amount of plaque that grows on teeth and gums, making it easier to keep a clean mouth.

• Mouthwash can kill bacteria & clear excess particles: When you brush and floss regularly, you typically clear a lot of debris from your mouth. However, these two actions alone may not catch and remove every particle. Enter, mouthwash. It’s a great follow up measure to get rid of the debris that remains.  

With so many tempting, sugary treats available today, it’s important that we amp up our oral health routines with all of the tools available to us. Beyond brushing and flossing regularly, mouthwash can positively impact the state of your oral health and leave your breath feeling minty fresh and clean!