Swish for a full 30 seconds (try counting to 30 in your head or using a stopwatch). Don't worry if you can't get to 30 seconds the first time – it gets easier each time you try. During rinsing, gargle in your mouth. Spit the solution out in the sink.
Mouthwash is generally meant to be swished around in the mouth for 30 to 60 seconds. Make sure you follow the directions on your specific bottle. Swishing for less than 30 seconds isn't usually enough time for the mouthwash to be effective while swishing for longer than a minute won't give you any additional benefits.
Can You Use Too Much Mouthwash? Using mouthwash several times a day for a long period of time may cause more harm than good, especially if you're using an alcohol-based brand. Alcohol can irritate the soft tissues of the mouth and may also cause dry mouth.
Short answer: It doesn't matter. However, if you are using a fluoride toothpaste, wait at least 30 minutes before you rinse (yes, even a fluoride one) as it'll wash away the fluoride from the toothpaste before it can do its job. If you do use a fluoride mouthwash, wait 30 minutes before you eat or drink.
Gargle for at least 30-60 seconds. This helps to ensure that the mouthwash can reach the back of your tongue and fight the bacteria there. Spit out the mouthwash.
Mouthwash may actually cause more cavities
First of all, your oral microbiome exists to help support the natural remineralization of your teeth. If you kill all the bacteria in your mouth (both good and bad), you eliminate a critical part of the equation in reversing tooth decay.
Use a mouth rinse before bed
For an added boost to oral health, consider using a mouthwash or rinse before bed. A rinse will help to remove bacteria from your mouth and can effectively help prevent cavities.
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.
If you accidentally ingest a small amount, don't panic. If it's just a little bit, you'll probably be fine, or your stomach might get a little upset for a short period of time. Call your doctor and check if it will help reassure you. A larger amount should warrant a call to your doctor or the Poison Control hotline.
Some mouth rinses contain high levels of alcohol — ranging from 18 to 26 percent. This may produce a burning sensation in the cheeks, teeth, and gums. Burning can also come from consistent mouthwash use, which causes irritated mouth tissue and can lead to mouth sores.
Mouthwash and Gum Disease
The fact that you keep the mouthwash in your mouth for as long as 60 seconds can cause problems. This process can introduce things to your mouth that can lead to gum disease or cancer. Alcohol-based mouthwash also limits the amount of saliva that the mouth produces.
You can use mouthwash prior to brushing to remove any food debris and plaque build-up in your mouth to set yourself up for a good cleaning. One important thing to note is that if you're using fluoride toothpaste, don't use mouthwash for at least 30 minutes after brushing!
Mouthwash should be used twice in a 24-hour period. However, a gentle mouthwash can be used after daytime meals. To reach all the germs hiding in the nooks and crannies of the mouth, a mouth rinse should be swished and gurgled for at least 45 seconds.
Does mouthwash kill good bacteria? Mouthwash kills good AND bad bacteria. It may seem like a good idea to get rid of the bacteria in the mouth, but by killing ALL of the bacteria, it throws off the balance in our oral microbiome.
If you have only swallowed a small amount of mouthwash, there is no need to panic or worry. You might not experience any side effects or you might experience a little bit of nausea and diarrhea. These symptoms will pass in a couple days. It's important to make a goal for yourself to not swallow the mouthwash again.
It's generally ok to swallow your saliva after using mouthwash as long as you've spat most of the product out. You may also want to rinse with water immediately after using mouthwash especially if it is an especially harsh product.
A general rule of thumb for safe use is to limit the use of mouthwash to one time per day, in conjunction with brushing the teeth and flossing two to three times per day and visiting the dentist one to two times per year for routine oral health exams and screenings for oral cancers.
Mouthwash might seem like a quick and easy solution instead of brushing and flossing before bedtime, but the truth is that it's just not an effective replacement to actually cleaning your teeth.
The American Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day. People sometimes brush after every meal, or brush midday to freshen up. Although this is not always a bad thing, when you start brushing too much or for too long, you can ultimately damage your teeth.
Using mouthwash as a substitute to brushing, or even more often than recommended, may actually cause additional damage. Many mouthwashes contain some level of alcohol. And too much alcohol is bad news for your mouth: It causes decreased saliva production which leads to a super-dry mouth, which means more bacteria.
Mouthwash Is a Short-Term Fix
But brush as soon after as you can. And if breath isn't fresh after a good brushing, it typically means it's packed full of bacteria. Mouthwash doesn't remove the sticky plaque and bacteria that only a good brushing and flossing can.
Brushing at night can help clear out these tiny particles of food from your mouth. If you maintain a brushing practice every night, it prevents the build-up of plaque in the long run. Plaque is the yellow substance that settles in your teeth and makes them look dirty.
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.