Are You Using Too Much Mouthwash?

Learn why you should resist the temptation of using mouthwash to cover up dental problems.

Mouthwash can be a helpful tool in at-home dental care, but it should not be the only or even the primary tool you rely on to keep your mouth clean and your breath fresh.

Here’s why.

First of all, depending on the type of mouthwash you are using, it may not have any real benefit for your oral hygiene beyond temporarily putting a nice minty smell on your breath. In other words, swishing your mouth out with one of these cosmetic mouthwashes will not actually make your mouth cleaner. Using a therapeutic mouthwash that is designed to kill oral bacteria will help make your mouth cleaner, but it is still no substitute for proper brushing and flossing.

Secondly, if you find yourself using mouthwash often as a cure for persistent bad breath, you may be missing out on an opportunity to investigate and correct a deeper problem. While bad breath is sometimes caused by something as simple as a dirty mouth, in other cases it can be a sign of dental problems like severe tooth decay or gum disease or of health problems such as sinus infections or stomach conditions. If you really want your bad breath to improve, you need to put down the mouthwash and see your dentist or doctor about tackling the root cause of the problem.

Finally, some kinds of mouthwash might actually be bad for your overall health if overused. Researchers are specifically concerned about mouthwashes that contain the antimicrobial agent triclosan. In some studies, triclosan has been linked to overactive immune responses, similar to those found in individuals who suffer from allergies. Some researchers are even concerned that triclosan could contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Another mouthwash ingredient you may want to avoid is alcohol, because it can cause drymouth. If you notice the product drying out your mouth, you may want to stop using it. Saliva is very important for protecting against tooth decay, so a mouthwash that dries up your saliva could actually cause more problems than it cures.

Some health experts would also argue that using any kind of germ-killing mouthwash routinely could be a bad idea, especially if you are also going overboard with other antimicrobial products around the house. Of course it’s great to kill germs to control the spread of disease, but you don’t want to create a totally sterile environment. Your immune system actually needs to encounter germs once in a while. Fighting off a few germs from time to time helps keep the immune system strong and better prepared to mount an effective defense against more serious threats.

If you have questions about mouthwash or about oral hygiene, please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of our caring dentists.