Lots of mouthwashes include acidic stabilising representatives to lengthen the life span, however, these acids can gnaw at your tooth enamel making them a lot more vulnerable to degeneration, as well as doing more damage than good.
Aside from alcohol, studies also show that commercially available mouthwashes have low PH level or are highly acidic with acid levels that are almost the same as your household vinegar. This compounds the deleterious effect of the alcohol in your mouthwash by hastening the erosion of your tooth enamel.
Mouthwashes that kill 99.9% of the bacteria in your mouth are also killing off good bacteria. This can damage the mouth's microbiome and its ability to fight cavities, gingivitis and bad breath.
Once tooth enamel is damaged, it cannot be brought back. However, weakened enamel can be restored to some degree by improving its mineral content. Although toothpastes and mouthwashes can never “rebuild” teeth, they can contribute to this remineralization process.
In addition to brushing and flossing daily, using mouthwash everyday needs to become part of the routine to ensure optimal oral health. Mouthwash will further supplement the daily dental routine to prevent and/or reduce harmful oral bacteria while maintaining a fresh feel and smell to the mouth.
Which mouthwash is safer for your teeth? Alcohol-free mouthwash is considered to be safer for your teeth because you do not have to worry about your enamel being weakened by the alcohol in your mouthwash or your gums burning while you rinse.
As the enamel continues to erode, your teeth might turn a gray or yellowish color. If your teeth change shape, it's a good indicator that you have enamel damage. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial.
Sometimes the bacteria in plaque changes food starches into acids. When this happens, the acids in plaque start to eat away at the healthy minerals in the tooth enamel. This causes the enamel to wear down and become pitted. Over time, the pits in the enamel increase and grow in size.
The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs' Acceptance of Listerine Antiseptic is based on its finding that the product is safe and has shown efficacy in helping to prevent and reduce gingivitis (and plaque above the gumline), when used as directed.
Using a mouthwash that contains fluoride can help prevent tooth decay, but don't use mouthwash (even a fluoride one) straight after brushing your teeth or it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth. Choose a different time to use mouthwash, such as after lunch.
Commercial mouthwashes such as Listerine have an acidic pH that may cause harm to the enamel if used too frequently. It is also important that you limit the duration of contact between the mouthwash and your teeth.
Can You Overuse Mouthwash? One of the main ingredients in mouthwash is alcohol. Alcohol destroys bacteria, but it can also cause harm to your gums, inner cheeks and tongue if over used. The alcohol itself has a drying property that will absorb the moisture from your mouth and cause the affected areas to dry out.
Sensodyne Pronamel works by repairing tooth enamel and remineralizing each tooth deep within its surface, to protect from further damage and acid erosion.
Can tooth enamel grow back? Enamel is very tough. However, it doesn't have any living cells and is unable to repair itself if it undergoes physical or chemical damage. This means that enamel erosion isn't reversible, and the enamel won't grow back.
It depends. It is possible for a tooth to repair itself if the damage is minimal. For example, if a tooth with a crack on the outer level and a minimal fracture line that does not cause pain may repair itself over time. The healing process is known as remineralization and refers to the minerals in our mouths.
Tooth sensitivity: As the insulating layer of enamel erodes away, your teeth may become more sensitive to hot, cold and even sweet food. A twinge of pain when eating these foods is an early warning sign of worn enamel. More severe pain is a sign of significant enamel loss.
As the enamel erodes more, your teeth may appear grayish or yellow. Your teeth may begin to appear rounded, develop ridges, and often the gaps between teeth will become more substantial. Eventually, you may notice cracks in the teeth or experience loss of tooth material.
Symptoms of thin enamel can be a translucent or clear appearance, white spots, tiny grooves or pits, sensitivity to hot or cold food/drink, tooth decay, and cavities.
The downside of using alcohol-based mouthwash is that it sometimes leaves you with a burning sensation in your mouth. Moreover, alcohol can reduce saliva production and lead to dry mouth, a condition known as xerostomia.
This is because alcohol is highly acidic and can dissolve your teeth's enamel, the protective outer layer. Over time, exposure to alcohol can lead to tooth decay and eventual tooth loss if left untreated.
The Mayo Clinic recommends using mouthwash after brushing and flossing your teeth.