The rules of oral hygiene remain the same - you must brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day and use mouthwash when you need to freshen your breath. But not all rinses intended for this are the same and some of them are harmful to health.
Minty-scented solutions are great helpers when you don't have time to clean up after a meal or snack. They mechanically remove food particles, reaching places where the bristles cannot reach. But some elixirs remove too many bacteria, killing the good ones and the bad ones.
How to Choose a Mouthwash: Dangerous Ingredients and Best Products
The American Dental Association ADA divides products into two categories:
therapeutic - reduces the formation of plaque, fights gingivitis and caries;
cosmetic - temporarily freshens breath, prevents the destruction of enamel and gum disease, but when the alcohol content causes the opposite effect.
The alcohol base dries out the mucous membrane and is especially harmful to people with xerostomia. Because saliva neutralizes acids and restricts bacterial growth, a lack of it leads to tooth decay. To avoid problems, dentists advise buying an alcohol-free mouthwash. These recipes are:
Pierrot Sensitive Mouthwash for sensitive teeth;
Dr. Wild Tebodont (Melaleuca Alternifolia) with tea tree oil;
Biorepair Plus Professional Collutorio to fight inflammation.
Look for formulas with a pH above 7 that do not contain Alcohol. When studying the compositions, keep in mind that alcohols are different and among them there are useful types. These have a complicated name. For example, Benzyl Alcohol is a natural ingredient found in fruits and essential oils. This includes xylitol, sorbitol.
Mouthwash and COVID-19 Protection
Promoting mouthwash as a means of preventing or treating coronavirus is dangerous. Studies conducted in 2020-2021 have shown that alcohol elixirs or other formulations cannot kill or slow the spread of the virus. Minor positive results have only been found in a few people briefly infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Even the manufacturers of Listerine have issued a statement that there is no scientific evidence that their products are suitable for the prevention of coronavirus. Although the solutions create an unfavorable environment for infections, covid-19 accumulates not only in the throat, but also in the nasal passages - even if the rinsing is effective, the virus from the nose will quickly return to the throat.
Where can I order a safe and effective mouthwash?
Alcohol-free products with fluoride can be purchased online with free shipping anywhere in the country.