Mouthwash, a essential or a faff?

Pablo Sanchez

In the opinion of the lerned professionals who may ihabit this forum, is mouthwash worth it?

I have been using it since God was a boy but i started to wonder is it reccomended by the dental profession over and above your daily brushing, or do we simply buy into the advertisments and the claims they make?

digzy

Brushing and flossing are most important.....I'll leave someone else drone on with the science bit re biofilms etc........
I recommend you use the rinse AFTER you complete both of these.

ballsymchugh

i say no, you will do better breaking down the layer of bugs with a toothbrush and floss. bacteria are slightly more advanced than to be broken down with something developed from stuff that was used to clean counter tops in bars.

Oral Surgeon

In order of importance
Brushing
Flossing
Rinses

I use mouthwash every once in a while, spend more time brushing and you will be good (2 mins minimum)

OS

coylemj

Nobody ever gets a straight answer to the question the OP is asking so let me ask it in a slightly different format...

I brush with an electric toothbrush twice a day, the model I use gives a little wiggle every 30 seconds which means I can be sure that the 2 minutes is spread evenly over the four stretches of tooth & gum (inside/outside, top/bottom). After brushing at night I run TePe interdental brushes with a small amount of toothpaste through all of the gaps.

Having done this, is there any point at all in then rinsing with one of the popular bands of mouthwash?

Big_G

coylemj wrote: »

Nobody ever gets a straight answer to the question the OP is asking so let me ask it in a slightly different format...

I brush with an electric toothbrush twice a day, the model I use gives a little wiggle every 30 seconds which means I can be sure that the 2 minutes is spread evenly over the four stretches of tooth & gum (inside/outside, top/bottom). After brushing at night I run TePe interdental brushes with a small amount of toothpaste through all of the gaps.

Having done this, is there any point at all in then rinsing with one of the popular bands of mouthwash?

Bit harsh to say that OP never gets a straight answer.

To answer the question, mouthwash won't do any harm. Most mouthwashes are not effective at disrupting biofilm. Mechanical removal is the best ie toothbrushing and flossing. If you do these two things adequately, mouthwash is not necessary. Remember that biofilm can be present on the tongue and the palate and therefore you will need to use a brush or scraper for those aswell. With regard to halitosis or bad breath, sometimes it comes from the tonsils which can be difficult to access with a brush due to gag reflex although it is an effective way to remove tonsilloliths or nuggets as I like to call them. Mouthwash can help to decrease the smell from these which as one dentist put it recently 'could knock a buzzard from an offel cart'.

Straight?

Honey-ec

digzy wrote: »

Brushing and flossing are most important.....I'll leave someone else drone on with the science bit re biofilms etc........
I recommend you use the rinse AFTER you complete both of these.

Er, when else would you use mouthwash???

ballsymchugh

Honey-ec wrote: »

Er, when else would you use mouthwash???

some people prefer to use mouthwash alone. :mad:

Pablo Sanchez

Thanks guys, all very helpfull, looks like i should start flossing! Is there any particular flossing method that you would reccommend, ie the string or the ones with the little handles?

Slightly off topic but as dentists can you advise which would be worse for your oral health, fruit juices or Diet Coke?

DaveTwenty7

Pablo Sanchez wrote: »

Thanks guys, all very helpfull, looks like i should start flossing! Is there any particular flossing method that you would reccommend, ie the string or the ones with the little handles?

Slightly off topic but as dentists can you advise which would be worse for your oral health, fruit juices or Diet Coke?

I would say Diet Coke purely because there is nothing beneficial in it at least the fruit juice may have some vitamins. You may as well drink battery acid as drink Diet Coke

Big_G

DaveTwenty7 wrote: »

I would say Diet Coke purely because there is nothing beneficial in it at least the fruit juice may have some vitamins. You may as well drink battery acid as drink Diet Coke

Some orange juice tastes like battery acid. Squeez for one.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Cranberry juice is one of the most acidic things you can drink

sudzs

Eliezer Black Greengrocer wrote: »

Cranberry juice is one of the most acidic things you can drink

I think cranberry juice must be one of the greatest marketing succeses ever, It's horrible stuff! Why would anyone drink it??

I can't stand mouthwashes either and the taste they leave. On the rare occasion I would need to use Corsodyl I just end up hanging around the wash hand basin spitting for 10 minutes! Brush, tepe, floss, slosh with lots of water and that's me!

Steviemoyne

sudzs wrote: »

I can't stand mouthwashes either and the taste they leave.

Well if you don't like the taste like I don't there's one I use called Retardex

Link: http://www.retardex.co.uk/buy

It's got no taste unless you add the peppermint sachet.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

There is a new listerine, listerine zero with no alcohol. Tastes pretty good without the sting of other mouthwashes. But as said above, with good mechanical cleaning the actual benefit of mouthwash over rinsing with water is small.

Pablo Sanchez

Eliezer Black Greengrocer wrote: »

There is a new listerine, listerine zero with no alcohol. Tastes pretty good without the sting of other mouthwashes. But as said above, with good mechanical cleaning the actual benefit of mouthwash over rinsing with water is small.

So any view on weather a manual or electric toothbrush works better?

digzy

there's plenty evidence to suggest electric are better. Personally I use the oral b triumph and find it excellent. Watch out for 1/2 price offers and most dentists have vouchers that you use to get a discount through amazon.

ahally

the ones with the little handles are much handier

Sigma Force

Not sure elec. are better maybe the more pricier ones are but the regular ones I find irritate gums but maybe that's just me. Flossing is so important you don't realise how much bits you miss after brushing.
Corsodyl I find was good but can stain teeth if used long term.
Nothing wrong imo in rinsing out with warm salt water now and then rather than all the expensive mouth washes. I find warm salt water relieves swollen or irritated gums better than any mouthwash used so far.

So many mouthwashes and toothpastes on the market they keep changing every week it seems I think the good toothbrush is more important than the paste.

sudzs

Sigma Force wrote: »

I think the good toothbrush is more important than the paste.

I know someone who was advised by a specialist (in what, I'm not sure!) that it is actually better to brush without toothpaste as the foam makes plaque removal less effective. He recommended for a brushing session, use toothpaste for just some of your time brushing for the benefit of flouride, freshness etc and brush without for the rest to ensure thorough cleaning!

ballsymchugh

sudzs wrote: »

I know someone who was advised by a specialist (in what, I'm not sure!) that it is actually better to brush without toothpaste as the foam makes plaque removal less effective. He recommended for a brushing session, use toothpaste for just some of your time brushing for the benefit of flouride, freshness etc and brush without for the rest to ensure thorough cleaning!

these guys: http://www.periocourses.co.uk/ recommend meticulous brushing and flossing for 15 minutes once a day with no toothpaste for the gums alone. brushing at morning and nighttime with toothpaste for the fluoride effect too though.