Brushing and flossing are the foundations of great oral hygiene, but did you know that mouthwash can be a great addition to your dental care routine as well? Mouthwash, or oral rinse, is a liquid product used to rinse your mouth, teeth, and gums. Typically, mouthwash will contain an antiseptic to kill harmful bacteria that live in your mouth.
If you’ve recently added mouthwash into your dental care routine, or are thinking about adding it in, you might be wondering how effective the oral rinse is? Or, when should you use mouthwash? We’ve got that all covered for you below.
Benefits of Mouthwash
Mouthwash has a host of benefits for your mouth and teeth! According to the American Dental Association, mouthwash helps reach areas that your toothbrush and floss simply cannot, reducing your risk of cavities. As the ADA notes, untreated gum disease can lead to a host of other issues from gum recession to tooth loss, so mouthwash helps prevent these issues and more.
Mouthwash also helps to control plaque, the bacterial film that builds up on your teeth throughout the day. While brushing your teeth removes plaque, mouthwash adds the extra security that it is all being removed before it forms into tartar. In fact, mouthwash even slows down the formation of tartar, the ADA reports.
When to Use Mouthwash
When patients first add mouthwash to their oral care routine, one of the first questions we get asked is should an oral rinse be used before or after brushing? The ADA states that you may use mouthwash before or after you brush, so the order is entirely up to you! Just be sure to read the label on your bottle of mouthwash to see the brand’s recommendation based on ingredients.
