Is mouthwash really a good product?
Dental hygiene is extremely important and people spend a lot of time and money on keeping their teeth and their mouth as healthy as possible. It is widely recognised that twice a day a person should brush their teeth thoroughly and accompany brushing with thorough flossing and a rinse using mouthwash. This process helps people to keep their teeth looking healthy and clean and their breath smelling fresh. Some people believe however that mouthwash can actually be bad for your oral health.
A lot of mouthwashes have a high content of alcohol in them some of which are made up of up to 26 per cent alcohol. The alcohol is in mouthwashes as what is known as a 'carrier-agent'. This means that the alcohol is needed for other ingredients to do the job which they are there for. The alcohol is the carrier-agent for ingredients such as menthol and eucalyptol which are good for breaking down the plaque which accumulates on the surface of teeth.
The problem with this alcoholic content is that it while it supports the breaking down of plaque, it itself breaks down the mucus-like liquid which keeps the mouth moist. When this is broken down the mouth can become very dry just like when a person becomes dehydrated and the person can develop bad breath.
Research also suggests that mouthwash can contribute to the development of oral cancer. The research shows that the ethanol which is in mouthwash helps many substances which cause cancer to get through the lining of the mouth much more easily. These substances such as nicotine are then much more of a threat to the person using them and the likelihood of oral cancer increases significantly.
If these issues really do present a real and significant threat then it is likely that mouthwash ingredients will change very soon. In the meantime however it is still a good idea for people to look for a low alcohol or even alcohol free mouthwash to minimise the oral health problems. Smokers who are concerned about the risk of oral cancer should speak to their dentist about what to do.
A lot of mouthwashes have a high content of alcohol in them some of which are made up of up to 26 per cent alcohol. The alcohol is in mouthwashes as what is known as a 'carrier-agent'. This means that the alcohol is needed for other ingredients to do the job which they are there for. The alcohol is the carrier-agent for ingredients such as menthol and eucalyptol which are good for breaking down the plaque which accumulates on the surface of teeth.
The problem with this alcoholic content is that it while it supports the breaking down of plaque, it itself breaks down the mucus-like liquid which keeps the mouth moist. When this is broken down the mouth can become very dry just like when a person becomes dehydrated and the person can develop bad breath.
Research also suggests that mouthwash can contribute to the development of oral cancer. The research shows that the ethanol which is in mouthwash helps many substances which cause cancer to get through the lining of the mouth much more easily. These substances such as nicotine are then much more of a threat to the person using them and the likelihood of oral cancer increases significantly.
If these issues really do present a real and significant threat then it is likely that mouthwash ingredients will change very soon. In the meantime however it is still a good idea for people to look for a low alcohol or even alcohol free mouthwash to minimise the oral health problems. Smokers who are concerned about the risk of oral cancer should speak to their dentist about what to do.
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