For excellent oral hygiene, brush twice a day for two minutes each time and floss daily. For some individuals, this doesn’t seem like enough, or, their mouth needs a little extra support. In these cases, mouthwash may be a good addition for a solid oral hygiene routine. Let’s look over some basic do’s and don’ts as you consider adding mouthwash to your daily hygiene routine.
DO: Choose therapeutic mouthwash. There are two types of mouthwash: therapeutic and cosmetic. Cosmetic mouthwash is designed to freshen breath temporarily, but does not actually kill the bacteria that cause the bad breath. Instead, choose a therapeutic mouthwash, which is designed to kill bacteria. Therapeutic mouthwashes can also be designed to accomplish other tasks, such as loosening plaque or whitening teeth.
DO: Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The ADA Seal of Acceptance is located on the packaging of many oral health products. To earn the seal, the products have been thoroughly tested for both effectiveness and safety. By looking for the Seal of Acceptance, you guarantee that you are getting a quality product, that does what it says it does without injuring teeth or enamel.
DON’T: Use as a substitute for brushing and flossing. You still need to brush your teeth twice a day, and floss once a day. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash all serve unique purposes that the others can’t accomplish as well. Therefore, they should be used in conjunction with the others for the best possible clean.
For more information, call Dowsett Dental Health in Calgary, Alberta, at 403.229.0510. Dr. Nathalie Dowsett and our team are happy to help!