We practice oral hygiene to keep our mouths feeling fresh, clean, and healthy. Brushing your teeth and flossing are effective ways to clear away harmful residues, but you can better prevent dental problems by adding further preventative measures to your regimen.
For instance, rinsing with mouthwash can do more than freshen your breath. This product can make your smile stronger and healthier when used as directed. Read on to find three advantages you will notice in your smile when you add mouthwash to your daily routine.
3 Dental Health Benefits from Mouthwash
Enhance Oral Hygiene Regimen
Natural bacteria in your mouth generate a film of plaque over your teeth throughout the day. Plaque will eat away at your dental structure, creating permanent damage to your smile, if it remains on your teeth.
This is why we practice oral hygiene. Brushing teeth twice per day and flossing on a daily basis scrub away this plaque, protecting our smiles from harmful plaque. But we also consume substances in between these cleaning regimens that will contribute to plaque formation.
To get rid of lingering food particles, it can be a good idea to rinse with mouthwash after a meal. This will wash away residues and give your oral hygiene a boost to better keep your dental health safe. It has the added benefit of lowering the chances of forming bad breath too.
Keep Gums Healthy
Gum disease affects about half of all adults in the United States. Despite its prevalence, this infection of the gum tissue can lead to major damage to your teeth, gums, and jaw, including tooth loss. You will need a dentist to treat gum disease for you, so you should prevent this problem when possible.
Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash can lower your risk of contracting gum disease and other oral infections. It balances the bacteria in your mouth so that it is less likely to spread and infect your gums.
It can also alleviate uncomfortable symptoms in your gums like swelling, soreness, or bleeding. If you experience these issues, do not hesitate to tell your dentist and seek periodontal therapy.
Strengthen Tooth Enamel
Your teeth have a hard outer layer called enamel that shields and protects the vulnerable dental interior. Though durable, enamel may erode or wear down over time, which puts your smile at risk of many dental dangers.
Your dentist may suggest rinsing with a mouthwash that contains fluoride to strengthen your enamel. When used, fluoride from the mouthwash will absorb into your teeth and fortify them, making them better able to resist stains and structural damage. You can reduce your risk of cavities and other dental issues this way.
Fluoride is found naturally in the foods you regularly consume as well as drinking water, but a boost from mouthwash can offer further protection for your smile. Ask your dentist for more preventative dentistry and oral hygiene tips that will suit your unique smile.