There are two generic types of mouthwashes—cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwashes are only designed to improve your breath while therapeutic mouthwashes can benefit your smile. But, with all of the choices available, how do you pick the best mouthwash for you and your family? We recommend looking over the ingredients. To help you make a wise choice, we’re happy to provide you with some information on a few of the more common ingredients in mouthwashes.
Antimicrobials: Mouthwashes with antimicrobials fight bacteria that can cause bad breath, plaque, and gum disease. Mouthwashes that have chlorhexidine are made to control gum disease, but should not for longer than 4 months. These mouthwashes can stain your smile, but a dentist can deal with this problem.
Astringent salt: These mouthwashes useful for hiding bad breath and refreshing your mouth. However, these mouthwashes might only cover a more serious problem—namely the cause of your bad breath. Fortunately, many mouthwashes have odor neutralizers designed to counteract many causes of bad breath. Still, if you have frequent or chronic bad breath, please consult your dentist.
Alcohol Free: You may need to choose between alcohol-free mouthwashes and mouthwashes made up of 27% alcohol. Studies have compared alcohol-free mouthwashes with mouthwashes with alcohol and discovered that both work about as well. However, there are concerns that alcohol consumption leads to oral cancer, but these claims have never been proven.
If you would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are excited to hear from you soon.