Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Safe, effective, and Alcohol free mouthwash

Safe, effective, and Alcohol free mouthwash


With so many mouthwash brands in the market how do you choose the product that is right for you?
The majority of dentists and oral hygienists view mouthwashes as an ‘added extra’. This means that using a mouthwash may help to keep your breath fresh and to remove food debris. However, many of us enjoy using a mouthwash to freshen our breath and start off a day feeling more comfortable about our dental hygiene.Generally speaking all mouthwashes could be categorized in 3 different categories:
  1. Cosmetic Mouthwash: These solutions are designed to refresh your breath and to combat bad breath. They do not have anti-bacterial ingredients so they can not fight bacteria.
  2. Antiseptic mouthwashes: These mouthwashes are designed to mask bad breath and to fight cavity and plaques. Most dentists agree that these types of mouthwashes can prevent tooth decay to some extent but cannot replace proper brushing and flossing.
  3. Flouride mouthwashes: These types of mouthwash are designed for people who are susceptible to tooth decay. So the added Flouride acts as a preventive agent and not an anti-bacterial ingredient.
It is important to know that almost all mouthwash brands contain alcohol. With so many flavors and colors added to the solution it is hard for us to notice the alcohol in our mouthwash. The presence of alcohol in mouthwash is a controversial subject and many do not feel comfortable using a solution with as much as 25% alcohol in it for two reasons:
  1. The consumption risk: This is particularity dangerous as the vibrant colors can intrigue toddlers and younger kids. Obviously, the best safety measure is  to keep the mouthwash away from the reach of children.
  2. The increased risk of oral cancers. There are studies that show the adverse reaction of mouth tissues to high levels of alcohol. Some of the mouthwash brands contain up to 25% alcohol which could increase the risk of oral and mouth cancers. Therefor, some dentists advice against the use of mouthwash altogether. Increasing, there are more and more alcohol-free mouthwashes on the market which do not have the association with mouth cancer. But it is still important to remember that you need to think carefully about why you use mouthwash. If you are using a mouthwash to combat halitosis or mouth ulcers, for example, the mouthwash could simply be masking a more serious, underlying problem.
Dr. Elyassian, D.D.S. recommends using a mouthwash that contain no alcohol such as Oxyfresh Mouthrinse. This product is safe and effective in oral health products, and it helps to remove the odor-causing compounds. Oxyfresh Mouthrinse destroys odor-causing compounds right at their source. It is safe for the entire family and containing no artificial dyes that can stain teeth and dental work.Learn more on OxiFresh website.