You’re probably heard your dentist tell you to brush, floss, and use mouthwash every day. Brushing, of course, removes debris from teeth before it can turn into plaque and then tartar. Flossing is used to take out particles from in between teeth and also between teeth and gums.
What Does Mouthwash Do?
Mouthwash is perfect for a complete, preventative oral health routine. It doesn’t mean that you can skip brushing and flossing and just swish some fluoride mouthwash around a couple of times a day, though. Mouthwash provides these benefits:
- Helps to control plaque before it forms or even right after it forms. Plaque can lead to tartar, a problem that can be serious for your oral health.
- Helps to control tartar, which causes gum disease. Gum disease can lead to pockets of bacteria attacking your gums and teeth.
- Reduces cavities when used properly with toothpaste and floss. Rinsing plaque from your teeth means that cavities are less likely to form.
- Prevents gum disease before it turns into periodontitis. Periodontitis can lead to loosened teeth, and at its worst, can attack your bone and cause teeth to fall out.
- Freshens your breath. Some mouthwashes contain antibacterial properties to kill bacteria that cause bad breath.
What’s the Best Type of Mouthwash to Use?
If you want all the benefits of mouthwash, you should buy one that has an antibacterial component. This will help to kill the bacteria that is in plaque and that cause gum infection and gum diseases. Also, a mouthwash that includes fluoride will allow you to protect the enamel on your teeth.
If you’d like to learn more about oral health, Wexford Orthodontic Care practice King Orthodontics can answer your questions. A healthy mouth is required for orthodontic appliances to work their best. Call King Orthodontics in Wexford or downtown Pittsburgh today to set up a consultation.
Dr. Bryan King earned his DMD from The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and holds his Master of Dental Science in Periodontics from The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Bryan has also completed an Orthodontic residency at St Barnabas Hospital in The Bronx, New York. Dr Bryan has received many honors as a practicing orthodontist including, being named a Diplomate of the American Board ofOrthodontics and being named a “Top Dentist” by Pittsburgh Magazine for several years running. He also earned the Lifetime achievement award given by Align Technologies in 2014 for his work with Invisalign.
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