How Do I Choose the Best Mouthwash for Plaque?

Plaque is a buildup of germs in your mouth that can cause both gum disease and tooth decay. In an effort to promote better oral health, your dentist might recommend using a mouthwash for plaque. Such rinses are widely available over the counter at drugstores, but you might require a prescription version if you are undergoing treatment for gum disease. A mouthwash for plaque might also come in different flavors so that the product is tolerable during use, and other types are alcohol-free. Special versions of plaque mouth rinses are available for children, because they are safer for this particular age group if the liquid is accidentally swallowed.

A leading cause of oral disease is the buildup of plaque in the mouth. Severe cases of excessive oral plaque can lead to tooth loss. For this reason, it is imperative that you take steps to prevent plaque in the first place. Eating certain foods, such as sweets, make your mouth more susceptible to plaque, so it is important to remain diligent about your oral health on a daily basis. In some cases, brushing and flossing are not enough to prevent plaque, so you might need the assistance of a daily mouthwash for plaque.

Mouthwash is often sold in drugstores and supermarket chains to consumers who are looking for a daily rinse to help prevent plaque. These rinses specifically reduce the number of germs in the mouth that promote the creation of plaque on your teeth as well as the gum line. Mouthwashes are available in a variety of flavors to mask the taste of the chemicals that they contain. When using a mouthwash for plague, it is important to brush and floss your teeth first, because the rinses are designed to remove leftover germs and debris that other oral tools leave behind.

Prescription mouth rinses are designed for patients who are being treated for oral diseases, such as gingivitis. These types of mouthwashes are much stronger because of higher concentrations of certain ingredients such as alcohol and fluoride. Dentists usually recommend these rinses for temporary use only, because they can be very strong.

Some patients are concerned about the level of alcohol in many mouth rinses, especially if they are particularly sensitive to this ingredient. In addition, some dentists believe that the daily long-term use of a mouthwash for plaque can actually cause burns and sores because of the alcohol content. If alcohol is a particular concern for you, some over-the-counter versions omit this ingredient. A pediatric mouthwash for plaque should be used for children, because such rinses often do not contain alcohol or fluoride, both of which can be harmful when swallowed.