You’d be forgiven for thinking that when it comes to oral hygiene, there’s really nothing simpler than mouthwash. While there may be plenty of complicated products and devices available these days, it certainly seems as if one thing you really cannot go wrong with is the mouthwash you use, day in and day out. Which is of course largely true, as it is extremely rare to come across anyone using mouthwash in a manner that is detrimental to their health.
That being said, when it comes to getting the most out of the mouthwash you use, there very much is a right way and a wrong way of going about things. Or should that be, there are certain common mistakes that it pays to be aware of, in order to ensure that you are not making them yourself.
Once again, it’s important to note that they are not the kinds of mistakes that can necessarily have ill effects on health. Nevertheless, they can certainly have a negative impact on your oral health regime – if only in the sense that you may not be giving your mouth the cleansing and protection you think you are.
So with this in mind, what follows is a quick rundown of just a few minor mouthwash mistakes you may very well be making right now:
Poor Quality
First of all, do not be fooled for one moment into thinking that every type of mouthwash available on the market is the same in terms of quality. Quite simply, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, the differences from any given mouthwash to the next can be night and day – both in terms of the quality of the ingredients and the overall effect it has on your mouth. While it’s not to say that a substandard mouthwash will cause you any harm, it may in fact have very little to offer by way of benefits. As a general rule-of-thumb, choose the very best mouthwash you can afford as recommended by your dentist or by a qualified pharmacist.
No Fluoride
Contrary to popular belief, not all mouthwash products contain fluoride. The overwhelming majority of high quality products will contain an optimum amount of fluoride, but there are certain products at various price levels that do not contain any at all. When it comes to preventing cavities, fluoride represents an essential part of your everyday oral hygiene regime. If there is no fluoride in the mouthwash you are using, there’s every chance it could be leaving your mouth a little too clean…at least in terms of fluoride supplementation, anyway!
Too Much Alcohol
Also contrary to popular belief, the most effective mouthwash on the market isn’t always the mouthwash that contains the highest concentration of alcohol. Of course, it’s impossible to deny the fact that when you have used an ultra-strong mouthwash with plenty of alcohol, it can leave your mouth feeling spectacularly clean. Unfortunately, excessive alcohol can also wreak havoc on the natural balance of your mouth in general, potentially doing more harm than good. Not only this, but if you have ever happened to suffer from a dry mouth or dry tongue, alcohol in the mouthwash you use could be making the problem even worse. As far as the dentists are concerned, high quality mouthwash does not need a high alcohol content to be effective.
Before or After?
There’s much debate as to whether it makes sense to use mouthwash before or after you brush your teeth. The reason being that if you use a high-quality toothpaste with plenty of fluoride, some argue that to use mouthwash afterwards is to effectively remove much of the good stuff the toothpaste was supposed to leave behind. By contrast, others argue that it is necessary to use mouthwash after brushing, in order to effectively remove debris and clean any areas of the mouth that have been missed. In terms of which makes most sense for you, this is something only you and your dentist can determine. There’s really no general consensus at the moment, so the best advice is to speak with your dentist and see which they personally recommend for you.
Too Infrequent
As is the case with brushing your teeth, it is generally recommended that mouthwash be used twice a day, morning and night. However, this isn’t to say that you could not benefit significantly by using mouthwash on a considerably more regular basis. Cleaning your teeth the standard way too often can actually do more harm than good, given the way in which the abrasive cleaning action can slowly wear away the enamel of the teeth. However, if you invest in a high-quality mouthwash as recommended by dentists, you can use it on a much more regular basis throughout the day. Particularly, it can be extremely effective if you use mouthwash after consuming a meal, eating snacks or drinking anything with a relatively high sugar or citric acid content.
Too Little Time
There will always be those who believe it is fine to simply throw a little mouthwash into their mouth, swill it around for 5 seconds and spit it back out. This might help getting rid of at least a little residual debris, but in terms of the active ingredients quality mouthwash contains, it is often necessary to leave it in there a little longer. It all depends on the products – some say 30 seconds, others say 45 seconds and so on and so forth. The simple rule-of-thumb therefore being to always read the instructions carefully.
Not Focusing on Special Properties
These days, there are literally thousands of different mouthwash products available to cater to the needs of pretty much every person across the board. Whether you suffer from sensitive teeth, would prefer to focus on preventing cavities or have concerns with regard to gum disease, there are specialist mouthwashes available for all such purposes and more. So rather than continuing to buy a generic mouthwash without even thinking about it, perhaps instead consider buying one that could be particularly effective and useful for you.
Swilling From the Bottle
Last but not least, everybody knows they are not really supposed to take mouthfuls of mouthwash straight from the bottle, but most people do exactly that anyway. The problem being that while you cannot see it, this doesn’t mean that the residual bacteria, debris and other unpleasant nasties are not making their way straight into the bottle from your mouth. Which in turn has the potential to compromise the effectiveness, quality and overall hygiene level of the mouthwash itself – all of which is why it’s a good idea to stick with the supplied cap or measuring device.
