Today, I will briefly explain some important characteristics of your everyday mouthwash that you may not be aware of. If you already know these, then props to you!
We all usually have a mouthwash (also known as mouth rinse) lying around somewhere in our bathrooms. But did you know that there are different types of them to address specific issues?
By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what you should look for next time you go on the hunt for one. And perhaps even get more than one as they all bring different benefits depending on their ingredients.
First and foremost, what is it?
Mouthwash is a liquid that is used to clean the teeth and mouth. This is done by swashing and gargling it around in your mouth, improving breath smell and cleaning your mouth.
Keep in mind that mouthwash does not replace brushing and flossing; this does not necessarily mean it is less important, it is actually the opposite of that, it reaches a more global area than the brush and floss can!
As brushing helps the teeth by effecting on the bacteria that lays on the surface. Mouthwash does not specifically target just that. But the gums and general mouth environment, and depending on which mouthwash you pick, it can either just freshen your breath, or bring you the benefits of treating your mouth for the future.
Different mouthwash for specific purposes
I am sure you should have noticed or at least seen the sheer amount of different brands and types available at the stores. I have mentioned before, different mouthwash accomplish different things. So now we will draw a line to able to tell a difference among them, we are going to boil it down to two for easy reference:
Cosmetic mouthwash: These are the basic kinds that just seek to improve bad breath for a period of time. Keep in mind that these mouthwashes just masks the problem and does not get rid of it in case you suffer from halitosis or gum (periodontal) disease.
Therapeutic mouthwash: Now these are the ones you want, as they drastically improve your dental health by attacking plaque. Their forte is not necessarily to give you that refreshing breath, but reduce the bacteria that cause the unpleasant smell. These generally have fluoride, as you may see in different toothpastes.
What you should look at in the label
If you have children and kids in the house, you might want to get a mouthwash without alcohol. The reason why is because swallowing this liquid that aims to kill bacteria will not do you any good when ingested, especially to your stomach and digestive track.
Now that we got that out of the way, make sure to read the label. Mouthwash tend to have instructions (crazy, I know). These instructions will be prove to be helpful; some of them will instruct you to dilute them in water before use, and even warn you if they are indeed safe to use with children of a certain age.
If you are interested in checking up with a professional with affordable prices, either it is for routine or for more serious purposes. You can shoot us an email to get in contact with dentists in Los Algodones, Mexico.