When combined with daily brushing and flossing, swishing mouthwash around your mouth for 30 seconds does kill bacteria associated with plaque, bad breath, and gingivitis. Using it twice in a 24-hour period is standard.
In addition to brushing and flossing daily, using mouthwash everyday needs to become part of the routine to ensure optimal oral health. Mouthwash will further supplement the daily dental routine to prevent and/or reduce harmful oral bacteria while maintaining a fresh feel and smell to the mouth.
Most dentists recommend that you use mouthwash after every brushing. Using it more than twice a day can be harmful, so use of this product should be limited. Dentists also advise that you refrain from swallowing mouthwash.
While it can depend on the specific mouthwash you use and the advice of your dentist, most mouthwashes should be used no more than twice a day. Make sure to read the label and follow the instructions.
Should I use mouthwash? 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Which mouthwash is safer for your teeth? Alcohol-free mouthwash is considered to be safer for your teeth because you do not have to worry about your enamel being weakened by the alcohol in your mouthwash or your gums burning while you rinse.
Most Listerine products, a popular antiseptic mouthwash brand, cause a burning sensation. Listerine contains menthol, eucalyptol, thymol, methyl salicylate and alcohol. The first four ingredients are essential oils. It is the alcohol and the essential oils in the products that cause the burn.
Commercial mouthwashes such as Listerine have an acidic pH that may cause harm to the enamel if used too frequently. It is also important that you limit the duration of contact between the mouthwash and your teeth.
It may cause dry mouth. Regular or excessive use of alcohol-based mouthwashes can dry out your mouth, which can lead to tooth sensitivity, bad breath, and even cavities.
For a safe mouthwash you can use every day as part of your regular oral care regimen, try Listerine Zero or Listerine Total Care Zero. These alcohol-free mouthwashes use a combination of essential oils and fluoride to kill bacteria, protect your enamel, and keep your gums healthy.
A mouthwash that contains hydrogen peroxide and used at least twice a day for three months can significantly whiten teeth. Word of caution: avoid mouthwashes that are dark in color; the color can actually stain your teeth when the alcohol evaporates.
The ADA states that you may choose to use mouthwash before or after brushing based on personal preference. That said, mouthwash manufacturers may recommend an order based on their product's ingredients, so check the label on your product to ensure that you maximize its effects.
Mouthwashes that kill 99.9% of the bacteria in your mouth are also killing off good bacteria. This can damage the mouth's microbiome and its ability to fight cavities, gingivitis and bad breath.
May be linked with increased cancer risk. Mouthwash may also contain synthetic ingredients that have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. A 2016 study concluded that people who regularly use mouthwash may have a slightly elevated risk of head and neck cancers than people who never used mouthwash.
NEW: STUDY REVEALS LISTERINE® ANTISEPTIC 4.6X MORE EFFECTIVE THAN FLOSS FOR SUSTAINED PLAQUE REDUCTION. For all patients—including those who don't floss well or don't floss at all— LISTERINE® Antiseptic mouthwash can help achieve better oral health by reducing plaque on teeth.
10-15 mins post breakfast is the ideal time to use a mouthwash if you are using it in the morning. Mouthwash is a temporary way to kill your bad breath. Using a mouthwash helps getting rid of any remnant bacteria left behind even after brushing and flossing your teeth.
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.
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.