Using Mouthwash

The which, why, and how of mouthwashing with mouthwash

Using mouthwash is a good practice to do to maintain your oral health and to get rid of bad breath. It is effective in reaching the areas that the toothbrush can't reach such as in between the teeth, the back of the throat, and on the inside of the cheeks. In this article we will cover how to use mouthwashes, how to gargle, different mouthwash solutions, and general mouthwash usage tips.

• How to use mouthwash
  • Use mouthwash before or after brushing?
  • How to Gargle
• Best Mouthwash Solutions
  • Avoid Alcohol
  • Effective Mouthwash Ingredients
  • Homemade Mouthwash
  • Use Warm Water

How to use mouthwash

1. Pour the correct amount of mouthwash according to the manufacturer into your mouth.

2. Rinse and swish vigorously in your mouth for 30-60 seconds.

3. At this point you may choose to spit this solution out and use new solution to gargle, or you may use the current solution in your mouth.

4. Gargle the solution for 30-60 seconds as well. 30-60 seconds might seem long but it is important to do because a lot of the bacteria that causes bad breath reside in the back of the mouth by the throat.

5. Spit out the solution in the sink.

At this point you may choose to rinse your mouth out with water, or you may choose to leave the residual mouthwash in your mouth to continue to work a bit longer. If you choose to leave it in, try not to drink or anything for 10 minutes. If you use a strong mouthwash that uses a high concentration of alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, it might not be a good idea to not rinse your mouth. Leaving strong mouthwash in your mouth may irritate, dry, or cause other problems in your mouth. Test different methods to see what works best for you.

Use mouthwash before or after brushing?

There has always been a debate whether to use mouthwash before or after brushing your teeth. There are logical arguments for both but few studies prove statistically what is most effective. One of the arguments people and dentists make who recommend using it before state that using it before brushing allows the mouthwash to loosen up the plaque and particles on and in between the teeth so it is more easily removed by brushing the teeth afterwards.

The other side states that mouthwash does little in the short amount of time to loosen the particles and it is more effective to use after brushing in order to thoroughly rinse and disinfect the mouth after the plaque and particles have been cleared by brushing. If you use mouthwash after brushing you may also elect to leave residual mouthwash in your mouth by not rinsing your mouth out with water after using mouthwash. This gives the mouthwash longer time to work.

There is a poll on this subject to the right. Please share with us what you do by voting.

How to Gargle

1. Have mouthwash solution in your mouth.

2. Take a deep breath.

3. Tilt head back as far as you can.

4. Open your mouth as much as you can (I find that this is more effective then barely opening your mouth).

5. Say "Ahhhh" like you do at the doctor when the are checking your throat.

6. You do not have use a lot of air or say "ahhh" loudly to do it. I find that saying "ahhh" in a pitch as low as i can while not using a lot of air to do is most effective for me. You should do it a slowly as you can without it making you cough or gag. If you do it too slowly the solution will slide down your throat and cause a coughing fit.

7. Once you run out of air, title your head forward back to its normal position to rest your neck and to also take in another deep breath.

8. Tilt your head back and do the process over again. It usually takes 3-4 breaths and gargling sessions to meet the 30-60 second gargling requirement.

Best Mouthwash Solutions

Avoid Alcohol

Although alcohol works as a good antiseptic in mouthwash, it unfortunately is too harsh and it dries out the mouth. Mouthwash that contains alcohol usually contains about 20-30%. That is why it burns so much when you swish it around in your mouth and gargle it. If used regularly, this alcohol can damage the cells in the mouth and cause oral sores over time.

A dry mouth is bad news when it comes to bad breath. Alcohol acts as a desiccant and dries out the mouth which in turn lowers saliva production. Saliva is very important in fighting bad breath, because saliva is oxygenated and that kills the anaerobic bacteria in the mouth.

When selecting mouthwash, select a mouthwash that is free of alcohol. The majority of mouthwashes do contain alcohol but a few mouthwashes are starting to appear in the market which are alcohol free. Listerine who is famous for its burning sensation has even put out a new mouthwash that is alcohol free recently. Check the list of ingredients on the back before buying.

BreathMD's Favorites: At BreathMD, when we aren't using our own home-brewed mouthwash, you will find us using Biotene and Periowash.

Effective Mouthwash Ingredients

There are several alternatives to alcohol that are being researched. Dental researchers have found that oxidizing chemicals are effective at killing the anaerobic bacteria and neutralizing the volatile sulfur compounds that the bacteria produce. Some oxidizing chemicals that are found in mouthwash are hydrogen peroxide, zinc chloride, and chlorine dioxide.

Check out our article on making your own homemade mouthwash in order to make your own inexpensive and effective mouthwash.

Use Warm Water

When diluting commercial mouthwash or when using a mouthwash solution you mixed yourself, use warm water. Warm water simply does a better job at cleaning compared to cold water. That is why when you wash dishes it is best to use the hottest water you can withstand without becoming too uncomfortably hot.

After brushing, scraping, and using mouthwash, it would be a good time to take some Oral Probiotics to encourage healthy bacteria growth over bad breath odor causing bacteria.

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