What do dentists think about mouthwash?

For some people, their dental routine goes something like this: Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash. And when you forget to rinse, it almost doesn't feel right without that delightfully minty taste in your mouth. But many people wonder: do you really need to use mouthwash everyday? read more

I think mouthwash is a great adjunct to your oral health. But it does not replace regular brushing and flossing. We usually recommend brushing at least twice a day and flossing once. read more

In fact, if you do find that you are relying on mouthwash (or any breath-freshening product) consistently to try and beat back bad breath, it’s time to go to the dentist and have a checkup. Popping a mint before a meeting is one thing, going through a tin of Altoids daily indicates that you have a problem. read more

Some dentists recommend an antibacterial mouthwash like listerine which consists of certain essential oils (menthol,thymol,eucolyptol, methyl salycilate) and alcohol which help to breakdown the bacterial cell wall. The alcohol(ethanol) is needed to make the essential oils soluble and do it's job. read more