Choosing Oral Rinses with Care

"Go wash your mouth out with soap!"  This expression dates to the 19th century and well into the 20th century, included in some of the most famous movies like "A Christmas Story." It had to do with punishing those guilty of such things as profanity, lying, verbal disrespect or quarreling, and tobacco use in young children. The idea was that the taste and after-taste of soap would serve as a deterrent to such actions.

While this old method of punishment isn't as commonly used, your general dentistry in Mentor OH, the American Dental Association, and others associated with the prevention of caries, or cavities, strongly urge the use of a therapeutic mouth rinse after brushing and flossing. While mouthwashes shouldn't be considered as replacement to the daily regimen of brushing and flossing, a therapeutic mouthwash helps in the control and reduction of plaque, gingivitis, tooth decay, and of course, bad 'morning breath.'

There are two main types of mouthwashes or oral rinses: cosmetic and therapeutic. The cosmetic types are merely breath fresheners with little power to combat plaque and tooth decay. Antiseptic mouthwashes help fight bad breath as well as kill germs that bring plaque and tooth decay. These are fine to use in conjunction with brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist for your routine dental check-up twice a year. Another option is using fluoride toothpaste while you brush and then swishing that toothpaste in mouth with plain water to rinse. It is the rinsing and ridding the mouth of the bacterial plaque that lies in hiding that matters.

There are countless types of mouthwashes that can benefit your smile - some that alleviate dry mouth, some that are simply to freshen your breath, and some that work together to battle tooth decay. Don't be afraid to ask our general dentistry in OH about the type of mouthwash you think you should use to help improve your oral and dental health!

Call our office today at (440) 357-1222 to schedule your routine dental cleaning.