Time to Water the Garden?
Time to Rinse your Teeth?
Using a mouth rinse does not take the place of optimal brushing and cleaning between the teeth. Mouth rinses may offer additional benefits for the following conditions:
Reducing bad breath:
Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily, usually stops working in under an hour! It can help to remove food particles between the teeth.
Helping to reduce cavities:
Fluoride mouthwash contains sodium fluoride which may help prevent cavities. Rinses with xylitol can help reduce bacteria accumulation on the teeth to prevent decay.
Helping to reduce gum disease:
Chlorhexidine mouth rinses are used to treat gingivitis by destroying the oral bacteria. It helps to reduce the inflammation (redness) and swelling of your gums and to reduce gum bleeding. These mouth rinses can only be prescribed by a dentist and should be used for a limited time. OTC rinses only reduce bacteria and should not be used in place of cleaning your teeth to treat gingivitis.
Relief of dry mouth:
There are many rinses made to help relieve dry mouth. If you suffer from dry mouth, use an alcohol-free mouthwash. Alcohol is a drying agent, and if your mouth is dry mouthwashes that contain alcohol can actually make dry mouth much worse.
Relief of pain from oral sores:
Saltwater rinses can speed healing. OTC rinses are formulated to soothe tissues and promote healing and may be helpful to use until the lesion is resolved.