Mouthwash is a very common household product, providing millions with clean mouths and helping them fight bad breath.
Canada is one of the countries that’s relatively better off when it comes to dental hygiene. As a country, Canadians spent $12.5 billion on dental services; it would be safe to assume that you’re among the majority, with healthy teeth and gums.
Three in four people use mouthwash on a regular basis, and you probably do too. You definitely know that there are plenty of flavors and colors in mouthwash variants. However, you might not be aware of certain interesting facts these highly sought-after dental products have. Read on to know them!
1. Not All Mouthwashes Are The Same
There are principally two types of mouthwash: therapeutic and cosmetic; the benefits that a mouthwash can give depend mainly on the type it is.
Cosmetic mouthwashes can do basic functions like removing bits of food stuck to your teeth, reducing the abundant bacteria in your mouth, giving you a pleasant taste, and temporarily sweetening your breath. However, this is all they can do. They cannot fight plaque or help you prevent cavity formation.
The therapeutic version, however, contains elements like cetylpyridinium fluoride and chloride, essential oils, and chlorhexidine. This means that it can handle everything the cosmetic version does, and additionally handle plaque and cavities.
Next time you’re out shopping for mouthwash, ensure that you get the version you need.
2. Mouthwash Can Be Harmless?!
In one word, yes. But there’s more to this.
Most washes contain a high level of alcohol. This, due to its dehydrating effect, can cause a dry mouth. Ironically, this leads to bad breath, and also irritates some of the tissues in your mouth. In some people, this can cause a sensitivity in the roots of the teeth. There have been some vague studies that suggest a link between mouthwash usage and oral cancer, but there hasn’t been any conclusive proof yet. There are alcohol-free alternatives, but these come with their own set of problems. Essential oils have a bad taste, and chlorhexidine can alter your sense of taste. The latter of these isn’t recommended for prolonged usage.
3. Mouthwash Doesn’t Actually Cure Bad Breath
Sure, this liquid definitely removes your bad breath temporarily. You can’t simply blame it for your bad breath, however—for example, the garlic-rich stench that infuses your breath after lunch actually comes from your lungs.
Saliva can be held partially responsible too; it can dilute your mouthwash, and its proteins can have a diminishing effect on the action of mouthwash.
4. You Can’t Substitute Mouthwash For Brushing
Mouthwash has a number of great benefits when coupled with a regular brushing habit. It can remove bacteria, but only for a short while. Only brushing can help you with things like plaque and oral debris. When coupled with brushing, mouthwash can help you improve your overall dental health.
Mouthwash is a great add-on to brushing, but it just won’t do by itself; never use it in place of brushing.
5. Mouthwash Has Uses Beyond Washing Your Mouth
This product doesn’t always have to be rinsed and gargled with to work its magic. You could use it to clean things, such as mouth guards and dentures. Additionally, some people swear by alcohol-based mouthwash for issues like dandruff, toilet bowl cleansing, and even underarm deodorants! These aren’t really on the label, so try at your own risk!
There you go! Mouthwash has many mysteries beyond the knowledge of the common man. If you want to get more first hand knowledge about its usage, you can visit our clinic at Markham and McNicol. Dr Vidya Varathan Dental Care is currently serving patients from Markham and Scarborough. Go impress your friends with these new-found facts. There are but few on this earth that know it can be used as a deodorant, for instance!