Are you taking care of your oral health? If you brush twice a day, you’re doing a pretty good job. If you floss regularly as well, you’re excelling! However, do you use mouthwash? Rinsing with mouthwash is a habit that often gets overlooked, but it can be a huge benefit to your pearly whites and the well-being of your mouth! Read on as we go over everything you need to know about using mouthwash.
Mouthwash: More Than Freshening Your Breath
The classic calling card of mouthwash is clean, fresh, minty breath. That’s why you might see people taking a quick swish of it before a job interview or first date. It can also be particularly helpful to use after you’ve eaten pungent foods like garlic or onions. But when you rinse with mouthwash, you’re doing much more than clearing away those stinky particles in your mouth.
Mouthwash typically contains ingredients that are ideal for killing oral bacteria that cause issues like gum disease and halitosis. As you swish it around your teeth and gums, it’s able to clear out tiny spaces that are much harder to reach with your toothbrush or floss. Plus, many mouthwashes contain fluoride, which helps strengthen your enamel and lower your risk of cavities.
How Do You Use Mouthwash?
Most people don’t stop to consider how much mouthwash to use. After all, how complicated could it be to rinse your mouth out? Fortunately, it’s not complicated at all. However, if you want to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth out of your mouthwash, it’s important to know how to use it properly:
- How much mouthwash should you use? While every brand will have their own recommendations, a good rule of thumb is to use 20ml. That’s about 2/3 of a fluid ounce or around four teaspoons. Using any more than that won’t hurt you, but 20ml is all that’s needed to be effective — you can save the rest!
- How long should I use mouthwash? Many people only spend a few seconds rinsing with mouthwash before they’re on their way to the next task. However, you should rinse for at least 30 seconds if you want to clean out plaque and bacteria from between your teeth, on your gums, on your tongue, and on the roof of your mouth.
Can Kids Use Mouthwash?
Experts don’t recommend the use of mouthwash for children under the age of 12. One reason for this is that very young children under the age of six are more likely to swallow their mouthwash rather than spit it out, which can make them sick. The other reason is that baby teeth have thinner enamel than permanent teeth which can make rinsing with mouthwash uncomfortable and even harmful to the enamel. Focus on helping them perfect their brushing and flossing before you introduce them to mouthwash when they’re 12 years old.
If you want a truly dazzling and fresh smile, consider using mouthwash! Talk to your dentist today to learn more about your different options and which one might be best for you.
About the Practice
At West Brookfield Dental, we’re proud to showcase the talents of a team of highly trained specialists. Whether you need a pediatric dentist for your child, an orthodontist for your teen, or a general dentist for yourself, we offer a wide range of services to treat the whole family under one roof. If you’d like to learn more about using mouthwash and how to pick one that’s right for you, don’t hesitate to contact us online or at (508) 867-2777.
