By
Dr. Linda Vidone, Dental Director of DentaQuest
Tubes
of toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss have long been considered the
tools for keeping your pearly whites healthy and clean. But more often than
not, many of us forget a key component in keeping our teeth in tip top shape:
mouthrinse. Mouthrinse, also known as mouthwash, is a tool that has often been
considered a cosmetic item, its purpose to freshen your breath and leave you
with a clean feeling.
However,
there is a new version of mouthwash currently on the market called the therapeutic
mouthrinse. Therapeutic mouthrinse has two key components that separate it from
other mouthwashes. It is composed of fluoride and antimicrobial agents which
play a big role in keeping your chompers strong and healthy. The fluoride
fights cavities and prevents decaying, and the anti-microbial agents help
gingivitis and plaque to the curb.
Although
it may seem like a do-it-all product, mouthrinse is not a substitute for
flossing or brushing your teeth twice a day; however, it can be a useful
addition to your daily oral hygiene routine.
You
might be wondering what the difference is between cosmetic mouthrinse
and therapeutic mouthrinse. Cosmetic mouthrinses may temporarily reduce
or control bad breath; however, they do not reduced cavities, gingivitis or plaque.
On the other hand, fluoride and antimicrobial agents in therapeutic mouthrinses
may help reduce cavities, gingivitis, plaque and bad breath in children and
adults of all ages.
By
removing the plaque that is left behind after brushing and flossing, therapeutic
mouthrinses helps prevent gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease, and
periodontitis, a type of advanced gum disease. This was seen in a recent study
released by the Academy of General Dentistry, which found greater declines in
both plaque and gingivitis among people using therapeutic germ-killing
mouthrinse than among those using placebo mouthrinses.
Plaque
declined 26 percent among those using the antiseptic mouthwash than among those
using a placebo mouthrinse. Among testers whose teeth had plaque problems at
the start of the study, 51 percent of those who cleaned with the antiseptic
mouthrinse had less plaque at the end of the study compared to 12 percent of
those who cleaned with the placebo mouthrinse. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of
people using the antiseptic mouthrinse showed measurable improvement in
gingivitis compared to only 30 percent of the others.
Interested?
During your next exam, talk to your oral health professional about adding a
mouthrinse to your daily routine. Happy Swishing!
Study
Source: January/February issue of General Dentistry (www.agd.org/gdabstracts).