Oral hygiene means keeping your mouth clean and free from plaque, a film created by natural bacteria in your mouth. Plaque erodes your enamel, leaving teeth vulnerable to major dental damage.
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily gets rid of plaque. But rinsing with mouthwash can have additional oral health advantages. Dr. Justin Deckard, a dentist in Washington, DC, describes the benefits you can experience if you add mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine.
Keep Your Breath Fresh
Bad breath feels uncomfortable and may make you feel self-conscious. This condition stems from food particles in your mouth interacting with saliva and beginning to break down.
Rinsing with mouthwash after a meal can remove lingering food particles from your teeth, reducing the likelihood of contracting bad breath. It will also eliminate plaque build-up that may have accrued between teeth brushing regimens. This lowers your risk of developing dental problems that can contribute to bad breath.
Strengthen Your Teeth
When selecting a mouthwash, you should choose one that contains fluoride for maximum oral health benefits. Fluoride strengthens enamel, the outer layer of your teeth, which makes teeth better able to resist dental concerns, including tooth decay.
Mouthwash with fluoride can have cosmetic advantages as well. Strong tooth enamel will improve your teeth’s ability to fight staining agents, ensuring your smile looks its best. Combined with good brushing and flossing techniques, your smile can be whiter and brighter with this type of mouthwash.
Fight Periodontal Disease
Bacteria in your mouth can spread across your teeth, heightening your risk of oral infections if you do not practice good oral hygiene. This could mean you are more likely to contract gum disease, a condition that leaves your gums bleeding, swollen, and sore and can make you vulnerable to major dental problems like tooth loss. For more information on how we diagnose and treat periodontal disease, please see Periodontal therapy.
Your dentist may recommend using an antibacterial mouthwash to balance bacteria in your mouth and reduce your chances of developing periodontal concerns. Dentists emphasize preventative care like this when it comes to promoting healthy gums.
Learn More from Your Dentist in Washington, DC
DC Precision Dentistry treats gum disease, tooth decay, and other dental concerns in patients of all ages. Dr. Deckard is an expert dentist in Washington, DC, specializing in restorative, implant, cosmetic, and general dentistry. To schedule an appointment with our practice, contact us online or reach our office by phone at 202.851.7554.