Oral Rinses: A Beginner’s Guide for Mouth Rinses and Mouthwashes

in Nov 19, 2022

Oral health should as much be a part of your healthcare priority list as anything else. Nutrition begins from the mouth, and an unhealthy mouth can lead to not just oral diseases but can lead to a complete ripple effect of issues and problems in your physical well-being. Healthy practices like brushing your teeth twice a day, using a warm salt-water mouth rinse, and cleaning the tongue can keep your oral cavity happy! In fact, it is believed that regular or daily salt-water mouth rinse can fight most bacteria and issues in your mouth. However, with life getting fast and food faster, our healthcare practices need to evolve too. In today’s age of processed and sugary foods, using an oral rinse or chlorhexidine mouthwash instead of salt-water mouth rinse for example may help you more effectively than otherwise. Best instead, use a combination of both chlorhexidine mouthwash and salt-water mouth rinse alongside your regular oral care practices.

Introduction: All About Oral Rinses

In the simplest words, an oral rinse is a liquid oral care product that is used to clean your teeth, gums, and mouth by a way of holding and/or swirling them in the mouth. These liquids are used as an addition to the regular dental or oral care regimen that one follows - and are recommended to be used in this manner, rather than as an easy substitute for brushing one's teeth. Many people prefer a natural home-based solution like a salt-water mouth rinse for dental issues and health, but it is widely believed that an oral rinse is also a great choice for this purpose. An oral rinse, however, may be effective and helpful in preventing oral issues, but only as a supportive product - used as one of the entire combinations of products, when used regularly.

While dentists often strictly prescribe the use of a mouthwash or an oral rinse if and when someone is facing acute dental or oral issues such as tooth decay, bad breath concerns, gum inflammation, xerostomia (or dry mouth), as a supportive cure - these products are also exceedingly used by common people as a preventive oral hygiene product - regardless of the current health of their oral cavity. Several brands that deal in medical supplies, and hygiene products, especially in the sectors of healthcare and well-being focus on designing and producing mouthwashes. This has led to the very convenient and accessible availability of oral rinses on common platforms and chemist stores, even without doctors’ prescriptions.

Types of Oral Rinses

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an oral rinse can be of two broad types - therapeutic or cosmetic; or even a combination of two properties. A cosmetic oral rinse is used for multiple purposes, including removing food residue or debris, hiding or covering up bad breath or mouth odour, and refreshing the mouth with a change of taste often to the likes of mint or citrus. Apart from the function of a cosmetic kind, a therapeutic oral rinse may contain one or more active ingredients that help prevent certain dental or oral diseases. An example of a bacteria-fighting mouthwash may be chlorhexidine mouthwash. Chlorhexidine mouthwash is considered the most effective type of mouth rinse according to studies.

Apart from the classification based on the purpose and function of an oral rinse, as mentioned above, these are also available in different types and varieties - based on the composition. One major factor of this differentiation is the presence of alcohol as an ingredient in the product. Both alcohol-based and alcohol-free mouthwash options are available over the counter. Most common mouthwashes containing alcohol may have an alcohol content ranging from 18% to 26%. This may cause a sense of burning in the mouth - around the cheeks, gums, and on the tongue.

The effectiveness of these alcohol-based options is inconclusive as per studies, and doctors around the world are split between teams of recommending these products and not. However, what is known is that these kinds of oral rinse or mouthwash can cause intoxication in adults if swallowed, and be extremely lethal if consumed by children. This tends to make an alcohol-free mouthwash the most commonly preferred choice among people. However, irrespective of whether it is an alcohol-based or alcohol-free mouthwash, it is crucial that one understand when and how to use mouth rinses properly to achieve adequate effectiveness.

How to use an Oral Rinse?

Whenever there is a new product in the market, skepticism surrounds it and clouds people’s minds. Even though mouthwashes are not a foreign concept since people have been traditionally using a similar salt-water mouth rinse as a technique, and even though have been around for a while, skepticism and confusion around this product have not faded away yet. This probably has roots in the fact that doctors and dentists are split in terms of the need, effectiveness, and usage technique of this product.

Even today, there is no single universally recommended way of using an oral rinse that we can all follow. What we do know for sure is that it is ought to be used with the regular brushing of teeth, flossing, and tongue cleaning - and not in place of them. While the part that using an oral rinse is part of an overall dental care regime is established and known, the frequency or even the order of its usage is not. Some people believe using mouthwash before brushing their teeth is more useful; others believe after is more effective. Let us see what makes all the difference:

  •   After Brushing: Many believe that the teeth, gums, and tongue should be as clean as they can be before using mouthwash.
  •  Before Brushing: The other school of thought believes that using mouthwash after brushing the teeth may nullify the effect of toothpaste by rubbing off its protective residue from over the teeth.

We believe that no size fits all in this case and that one’s oral health regime must be customized and adjusted based on their need. So if you feel like using a mouthwash or an oral rinse before brushing your teeth works better, pick that. The important thing is to add it to your regime, and stay healthy - while we wait for the world of doctors to pick one side on this!

Are Oral Rinses Safe?

Generally speaking, mouthwashes or oral rinses are typically safe for use, with some caution. This degree of caution may depend on the type and concentration level of the product. For example, an alcohol-based mouthwash or a curative high-strength product may require caution in most cases due to possible side effects. Some side effects may include a burning sensation, dry mouth, intoxication, change in taste sensation, and inflammation, among others. Serious side effects may be rare but are possible - especially among children.

In the case of an alcohol-based mouthwash, you must be a certain level of cautious when using it. You must ensure that you use the designated amount of liquid, check that you must not have any cuts or open wounds in your mouth while you use it, and try to never swallow it! An alcohol-based mouth rinse must never be used among children as its effects may be dangerous or even lethal in younger people.

However, in the case of an alcohol-free mouthwash, there is minimal to no caution required when using. For the most part, this kind of mouthwash is considered as safe as a good old salt water mouth rinse!

Perfora’s Mouthwash Products

Perfora is one of the leading oral hygiene and care brands in town. With a motto to elevate your everyday oral care, our team works tirelessly to design and produce premium high-quality products that maximize oral health for you! Our pro-biotic alcohol-free mouthwash comes in two beautiful flavour options - both of which do the perfect job for your oral health and hygiene!

Our alcohol-free mouthwash range currently has two products - one in the flavour of thyme mint, and another being lemon mint. Each alcohol-free mouthwash in this range is equally refreshing and safe! Ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, and Essential oils - mixed with the goodness of pro-biotics make our alcohol-free mouthwash range the one to go for! Made safe, cruelty-free, with no artificial flavours, our alcohol-free mouthwash does the job of fighting bacteria, removing plaque, and freshening up your breath without the cruel price of burning in your mouth!

Check out our alcohol-free mouthwash here!

If you would like to create a regime, combine our oral care products together and witness the magic good health brings to you. We have a complete collection of products ranging from toothpaste, electric toothbrushes, alcohol-free mouthwash, dental flosser, tongue cleaners, and more! Buy your favourite products today and elevate your everyday oral care with Perfora.

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