Is Mouthwash Necessary?

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is necessary, and flossing your teeth every single day is necessary, but what about mouthwash? Is mouthwash necessary? The answer may surprise you.

If you are flossing your teeth every single day and brushing your teeth at least twice a day, then rinsing with mouthwash is not necessary. You can still use it to freshen your breath after a pungent meal, but it is not a necessary component of your oral health.

However, if you do not floss your teeth every single day and you occasionally forget to brush your teeth, then adding mouthwash to your dental care routine can be very beneficial.

All American Dental Association (ADA) approved mouthwashes contain ingredients that prevent cavities and protect the mouth from gum disease. Each day, millions of bacteria bombard your mouth and produce acids. As the bacteria congregate together they form dental plaque – that sticky, white film that forms on your teeth each day. If this plaque is not removed from the teeth by flossing and brushing daily, then the acid-producing bacteria will begin attacking the tooth enamel and gum tissues within the mouth. When the acids eat a hole through the tooth enamel it is known as a cavity, and will develop into decay if not treated. When the acids begin to infect the gum line it is known as gingivitis, and it will develop into serious, irreversible periodontal disease if it is not treated in its earliest stage.

While mouthwash is not meant to take the place of flossing daily and brushing your teeth at least twice a day, it can help to protect the mouth from the negative consequences of dental plaque by killing the bacteria that lives inside the plaque. It will not rinse plaque from your mouth, so you will have to endure the scraping tools at the dentist, but it will fight cavities and gum disease.

At Pristine Dental, we want all of our patients to achieve and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile for life. We encourage everyone to floss daily and brush at least twice a day and to keep regular dental cleaning appointments. We will be happy to recommend a mouthwash to meet your needs, so please call our practice today.