Overuse of mouthwash might disrupt your oral bacteria balance, causing more harm than benefit to your dental health. Do not keep using it if you see problems. If you see new mouth ulcers or stains on your teeth after using mouthwash, stop immediately and consult your dentist.
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.
The research is mixed, but in general, most studies have found at least a slightly increased risk of oral cancer in people who use mouthwash. Some studies have also found that alcohol-based mouthwash can cause ulcers and destroy fillings.
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.
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.
It is not recommended to rinse your mouth with water after you have just used mouthwash. This is because many mouthwashes contain ingredients such as fluoride that need time to start working. If you rinse your mouth out straight after, the fluoride will also be washed away during the rinsing.
Empty the cup into your mouth and swish it around. Don't swallow it. Mouthwash isn't meant for ingesting, and it won't work if you drink it. While you're rinsing, gargle for 30 seconds.
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.
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.
Leaving the toothpaste on your teeth overnight will allow the enamel to be fed fluoride from the paste. This fluoride will prevent the breakdown of enamel and allow the rebuilding of demineralized enamel. 2. All you need is a pea-size amount of toothpaste on your brush after the age of 3 years.
You can spit it out as the need may arise. However, eating or drinking for at least 30 minutes is not advisable as it will lead to the washing-off of the mouthwash from the mouth and thus hinder with its efficacy. Also, rinsing with a mouthwash immediately after brushing is also not recommended.
According to the American Dental Association, it doesn't matter whether you use mouthwash before or after brushing. Both are equally effective. The sequence in which you brush, floss and rinse makes no difference as long as you do a thorough job and use quality products.
Alcohol does have the ability to kill germs, but mouthwash doesn't contain enough alcohol for that to happen. Instead, it's there to act as a vehicle for other ingredients. It can also serve to dry out the mouth. The actual burning sensation doesn't come from the alcohol itself.
The burn that it causes is the result of alcohol in it as well as the essential oils described above. We've found that some patients are okay with the burning sensation because it confirms that the Listerine is working and they'll be left with fresh breath.
It leaves people confused about whether to rinse or not rinse their mouth after brushing. Try as much as possible not to rinse your mouth with water after brushing. Fluoride is essential in terms of making sure you maintain proper oral hygiene standards. If you have to rinse your mouth, then you should use mouthwash.
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 Is a Short-Term Fix
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.
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.
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.
People who use mouthwashes two or more times daily are at a higher risk of developing tooth decay than those who do not use it.
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.
Use a soft toothbrush to avoid scraping the sores. Avoid mouthwash until the infection has cleared. Not only can mouthwash sting, it can also dry out your mouth which could cause the infection to get worse.
Avoid Scope, Listerine and the other commercial mouthwashes. They're acidic, contain potentially cancer-causing chemicals, and are just plain bad for you. Simpler, gentler, homemade rinses and those from CariFree, however, can soothe your mouth and balance your pH, among other benefits.