Is Mouthwash Necessary?

>Mouthwash is a great tool for freshening your breath after a meal or before meeting with other people, but is mouthwash a necessary part of your dental hygiene routine? The short answer is “no,” but that’s not a simple “no.”

The truth about your oral hygiene is that nothing can take the place of flossing daily and brushing your teeth at least twice a day. If you are doing both of these, then adding mouthwash to your daily routine is not necessary. However, if you are not an avid flosser and you often skip out on brushing your teeth, mouthwash is a tool that can definitely benefit the health of your mouth.

Mouthwash was developed to be a tool that helps fight against the development of cavities and that lowers the risk of oral disease. Cavities and gum disease are caused by bacteria within the mouth. Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria. Each day after you eat, these bacteria congregate on the tiny food particles that are left behind in the teeth. As these bacteria begin breaking down these food particles they produce acids in order to assist them. It is these acids that are the most damaging to the teeth and mouth because they begin to eat their way through the tooth enamel and gum tissues. When these acids eat through the tooth enamel they create cavities, and when they begin to infect the gums gingivitis and then periodontal disease can set it.

Floss is the only tool that is specifically designed to remove the bacteria-laden plaque that forms on the teeth each day, while brushing helps to loosen the plaque from the surface of the teeth so that it can be spat of out the mouth. However, if you do not floss every single day and you occasionally forget to brush your teeth – your mouth is a harboring ground for disaster. While mouthwash was not designed to replace flossing and regular brushing it can help to kill the damaging bacteria within the mouth.

At Crabapple Dental, we can recommend the best type of mouthwash for your oral health needs. Mouthwash is not a necessary component of your oral health routine, but it does have benefits that can help protect the health of your mouth. Contact us today!