Research shows that antimicrobial LISTERINE® mouthwash kills oral bacteria within 30 seconds for a difference you will notice with continued use. In fact, the bacteria in plaque and saliva samples were killed within 30 seconds of coming into contact with LISTERINE® rinse.
Results. The experiment showed that the zinc chloride mouthwash Lavoris had the least amount of bacteria growth and thus worked best.
LISTERINE® has been proven to kill 99.9% of germs, while ensuring healthy gums, clean teeth and fresh breath.
Oils such as eucalyptol, menthol, and tea tree, can help kill harmful bacteria in your mouth. This keeps your gums from getting inflamed. It's for this reason you'll often find these ingredients in toothpaste and mouthwash.
Periodontal disease is a serious infection under your gumline. ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) is an antibiotic that kills the bacteria that cause the infection. It's placed directly in the infected areas—or “pockets”—in your gums.
Rinsing your mouth with any product is insufficient. You really MUST gargle for it to be most effective. Since the risk of swallowing any liquid is great with gargling, salt water is the most safe and effective solution you can use. This is significantly more effective than mouthwash.
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.
Mouthwash can be used every day if instructed by your dentist. However, make sure to also follow the instructions on your specific product, including how often to use it and how much to use.
Chlorhexidine Mouthwash
Chlorhexidine is an antibacterial used as an active ingredient in certain mouthwash brands. It is a broad spectrum antimicrobial with particular use against bacteria that cause gum disease. Dentists do sometimes employ chlorhexidine mouthwash to treat patients with gum disease.
Chlorhexidine (Peridex) is an antiseptic mouthwash that's used to treat gingivitis (gum inflammation) in adults.
Generally, dentists and the American Dental Association (ADA) agree that mouthwash has some effect on the reduction of bacteria in the mouth, but by itself, mouthwash is not a cure for tooth decay or halitosis.
In addition to brushing and flossing, a mouthwash can help to eliminate remaining harmful bacteria. Peroxide can act to oxidize the oral environment which can lead to inactivating bacteria and viral particles, while alcohol can inactivate the proteins that some bacteria and viruses need to survive.
Antiseptic: This type of mouthwash contains alcohol and is used to stop bacterial growth. It is ideal for those with mouth infections, but can also assist in fighting halitosis (bad breath). Although it can be effective in killing bacteria and providing fresher breath, it can also discolour your teeth with overuse.
Conventional mouthwash is not nearly as helpful as it's been purported to be. It destroys the bacterial balance in your mouth, dries out the skin, causes imbalances in pH levels, worsens bad breath, may cause mouth ulcers and increase your risk for oral cancer, and it may contribute to the development of gingivitis.
When this happens, the harsh ingredients in your toothpaste cause the cells lining the insides of your cheeks to slough off, and as they collect in your mouth, this creates the white, slimy, stringy stuff.
It's important to use mouthwash after eating and before bed. For each use you should swish the liquid in your mouth for about a minute. If you eat a meal with heavy odors, you should use mouthwash after eating. It's best to also use mouthwash before bed to get rid of excess germs and bacteria before or after brushing.
After brushing and flossing, you can use a salt rinse three to four times a week. But don't use a salt rinse more often than this - too much sodium could have negative effects on your tooth enamel, like eventual erosion⁴.
Salt water rinses increase the pH balance within your mouth, making it a more alkaline environment. Since bacteria thrive in acidic environments and salt removes water from bacteria via osmosis, swishing with salt water can stop bacterial growth and reduce plaque and inflammation.
The salt can quickly reduce inflammation and swelling. You may also choose to replace salt with baking soda. Baking soda can kill bacteria, so it could be good if your sore throat is due to a bacterial infection such as strep.
You can't cure it because once you lose structural support around your teeth, you don't usually get all of it back. However, periodontal treatment can reduce infection and rebuild your bone and tissue to some degree. Another factor is genetics. There are many different types of oral bacteria.
Gum recession treatment largely depends on what caused the condition. Mild cases of gum recession may be improved with nonsurgical treatments, such as topical antibiotics, dental bonding or orthodontics. In most instances, however, gum recession surgery is needed to fully correct the problem.
The main cause of periodontitis is poor oral hygiene. Bacteria cling to plaque and tartar on your teeth surfaces. If you don't clean your teeth as well or as often as you should, bacteria travel down beneath your gum line, where your toothbrush and floss can't reach.