As soon as we grow teeth during infancy, we must start caring for them at home. Oral hygiene involves brushing and flossing teeth to get rid of natural plaque and bacteria that can hurt our smiles if they remain.
Brushing teeth twice a day and flossing on a daily basis effectively keep your mouth clean. But you can enhance these efforts by rinsing with mouthwash. This product freshens your breath and keeps your teeth and gums looking and feeling their best too. Read on to find three ways that adding mouthwash to your daily routine can improve your oral health.
3 Benefits of Rinsing with Mouthwash
Boost Overall Oral Hygiene
Practicing diligent oral hygiene will get rid of plaque and other harmful residues that accumulate on your teeth throughout the day. You can keep your mouth clean enough to lower your risk of many dental problems this way.
But you consume substances between these teeth brushing routines that can contribute to plaque formation. Lingering food particles can cling to your teeth until the next time you brush your teeth and cause damage to your smile in this time.
It can be a good idea to rinse with mouthwash after a meal to wash away these particles and give your oral hygiene a boost. This can also reduce the chances you will develop bad breath. Your mouth can then feel fresh while also being actually clean.
Prevent Gum Problems
About half of American adults will develop gum disease, an infection of the gum tissue that begins with inflammation of the gums. Without prompt treatment from a dentist, the disease will progress to the teeth and jawbone and lead to major irreversible damage like tooth loss.
To prevent this problem, you can rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash. This type of mouthwash will balance the natural bacteria in your mouth. It will in turn reduce your risk of contracting oral infections like gum disease.
When it comes to periodontal health, dentists suggest preventative measures to avoid getting gum disease in the first place. Antibacterial mouthwash can keep the disease at bay. It can also alleviate uncomfortable periodontal symptoms like swelling and soreness of the gum tissue.
Strengthen Tooth Enamel
Your teeth feature a strong, hard outer layer called enamel. This shields the vulnerable interior of the teeth from harm that could cause pain and structural damage. Though durable, enamel may wear down over time, sometimes for reasons beyond an individual’s control like aging.
Once deteriorated, the enamel will not regrow. A dentist can use restorative treatment to rebuild the structure of your smile if this occurs. But you can keep your tooth enamel strong by rinsing with a mouthwash that contains fluoride.
Fluoride is a natural substance that absorbs into the teeth and makes the enamel stronger. The teeth can then better resist erosion and surface stains. You can lower your risks of cavities and other issues when you fortify your teeth this way.