Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

CaptainDrake15 t1_iu4loiv wrote

Dental Hygienist here. While using mouthwash will help reduce the overall number of bacteria in your mouth (for a time) and introduce some fluoride into the equation to help with tooth remineralization, it won’t remove plaque. Plaque that is allowed to sit in place for more than 24-48 hours will become calculus (aka tartar) which can only be removed in a proper dental setting. If not removed it will lead to gum inflammation and act as a harbor for bacteria that cause decay.

That being said brushing twice a day and flossing once a day are generally all you need to keep your teeth and gums healthy and prevent costly dental bills in the future. I guarantee the money you spend on any mouthwash is wasted if you’re not brushing and flossing first.

16

Rashinar t1_iu4rcrj wrote

Is every mouthwash from the store next to you suitable? What should be in that mouthwash, any minerals or other stuff I should check for?

3

CaptainDrake15 t1_iu4u1e9 wrote

A fluoride mouthwash is what you should be looking for. ACT, Listerine, etc will have fluoride. Some mouthwash products have alcohol and some don’t but that’s not really a factor in the effectiveness of the mouthwash.

3