Is mouthwash necessary?

Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss… and mouthwash.

Is this last element really necessary, or is it primarily a way to achieve fresh breath?

The answer is:

mouthwash can be a valuable addition to oral hygiene, but it is not a substitute for brushing or cleaning between the teeth.

This position is also maintained by the American Dental Association.

Not every mouthwash works the same way

The first mistake is treating all mouthwashes as a single category.

The ADA distinguishes between:

cosmetic and therapeutic mouthwashes.

A cosmetic mouthwash can primarily improve the feeling of freshness.

A therapeutic mouthwash, however, contains active ingredients intended, for example, for plaque control, gingivitis, tooth decay, or bad breath.

Therefore, it is worth changing the question "is it worth using mouthwash?" to:

what problem do I want to solve with it?

Fluoride mouthwash

Fluoride mouthwashes can provide an additional source of fluoride and be part of cavity prevention.

The ADA points out that the fluoride contained in the mouthwash remains in plaque and saliva and can help protect against tooth decay.

However, this does not mean that every healthy adult must automatically use a fluoride mouthwash.

It is rather an additional tool that can be selected based on individual risk.

Chlorhexidine mouthwash

Chlorhexidine is an entirely different category.

It has well-documented properties for reducing dental plaque and gingivitis. A systematic review showed a significant reduction in plaque and gingivitis symptoms when using chlorhexidine rinses.

At the same time, tooth surface staining occurred more frequently.

Therefore, chlorhexidine should not be treated as a simple "fresh breath mouthwash" used indefinitely without a specific reason.

Its use should be determined by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Does mouthwash reach where the toothbrush cannot?

Mouthwash does indeed come into contact with a large surface area of the oral cavity.

However, this does not mean it replaces the mechanical removal of biofilm.

The ADA clearly states that rinsing is an addition, not a substitute for brushing and cleaning between the teeth.

It is a bit like dish soap without a sponge – the chemistry can help, but the biofilm must also be removed mechanically.

Is alcohol-free mouthwash better?

The absence of alcohol does not in itself indicate whether a product is effective.

A much more important question is:

what active ingredients does the mouthwash contain, and what is it intended for?

However, people who dislike the burning sensation or have sensitive mucous membranes may prefer milder alcohol-free formulas.

Should you rinse your mouth immediately after brushing?

If you use fluoride toothpaste, it is worth paying attention to when you use mouthwash.

Intensively rinsing the mouth immediately after brushing can remove some of the ingredients left behind by the toothpaste.

Therefore, mouthwash can be used at a different time of day or in accordance with the specific product's instructions and the dentist's recommendation.

Who can benefit most from mouthwash?

Mouthwash can be particularly useful when it has been selected for a specific problem, such as:

• increased risk of tooth decay,
• plaque problems,
• gingivitis,
• bad breath,
• specific recommendations following dental procedures.

Do you have to use it?

No.

For most people, the foundation remains:

brushing twice a day + thorough cleaning of interdental spaces.

Mouthwash is an additional tool.

And like any tool, it works best when we know why we are using it.

Alcohol-free mouthwash from our selection

Since mouthwash is intended to be an addition, we have chosen one that does no harm: PrevDent Mouthwash 300 ml. Alcohol-free (no burning, no drying), fluoride-free, and SLS-free, based on xylitol and glycerin, with mild spearmint. 25 ml after brushing, 30 seconds, spit it out. It does not contain hydroxyapatite, so leave the remineralization to the toothpaste; the mouthwash rinses away residues and supports pH balance.

The same formula in a version for people with braces is PrevDent OrthoCare Mouthwash: with fixed braces, mouthwash makes more sense than almost anywhere else, as it reaches under the archwire and around the brackets. With daily rinsing, a bottle lasts less than two weeks, which is why there is also a 2 × 300 ml set.