A Simple Guide to Using a Mouthwash the Right Way

People often underestimate the value of a mouthwash, and it’s true that purely ‘cosmetic’ products don’t do much for improving your oral health. However, there are specialised mouthwash solutions that can help deal with some serious dental problems and generally improve your oral hygiene.

Choose the Right Type of Mouthwash

In order to really benefit from rinsing your mouth with a specialised solution, you need to choose a product that actually has some value. The following tips will help you navigate the market:

• Say ‘no’ to alcohol.
  Avoid all alcohol-based products by default as they can damage your tissues and teeth in the long run. Despite the fact that alcohol is an effective antiseptic, these solutions cause a dry mouth, a condition that can cause several serious dental issues, including bad breath and infections.
• Go for oxidizing chemicals.
  Current alternatives to alcohol in mouthwashes are oxidizing chemicals. These elements also have the power to destroy bacteria, but they don’t have such a detrimental effect on the tissues. Look for products that contain zinc chloride, chlorine dioxide, or hydrogen peroxide.

Use the mouthwash correctly

Even the best kind of mouthwash wouldn’t be able to help you if you don’t use it the right way. The vast majority of people simply rinse their mouths with the solution for a few seconds, but this definitely isn’t enough.

The correct procedure for using a mouthwash is:

1. Take the correct amount of liquid in your mouth.
   It’s very important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions in this particular case, in order to achieve the maximum efficiency.
2. Rinse and swish for 30-60 seconds.
   Use a watch to keep track of the time at first, because even 30 seconds will seem like a small eternity at first. Rinse and swish vigorously so that you set the muscles in your cheeks and jaw working.
3. Gargle for 30-60 seconds.
   You can either gargle with the solution you already have in your mouth or spit it out and take a ‘fresh’ dose. Gargling is an essential part of the mouthwash ritual, but it can take some time to get used to it. This step is necessary to remove bacteria from the back of your mouth and throat, the areas that can’t be reached by floss or toothbrush.

Remember that using a mouthwash should be the last step of the tooth-brushing and tongue-scraping ritual. This way, you will wash away the bacteria already ‘loosened’ but not quite removed by the standard oral care rituals.