Our Blog

Mouthwash is a great way to freshen breath and keep gums healthy, but is it good for cleaning teeth? Here’s what you need to know about mouthwash and its benefits.

There are Two Main Types of Mouthwash

There are generally two types of mouthwashes available: cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwash gives your mouth a clean, pleasant taste and reduces bad breath. However, cosmetic mouthwash treats the symptoms of bad breath, not the causes of the problem. 

Therapeutic mouthwash helps treat tooth decay, prevent gingivitis and reduces plaque buildup. Therapeutic mouthwash may not freshen your breath as well as cosmetic mouthwash, but it will help fight the causes of bad breath.

Check for the ADA Seal of Approval

The American Dental Association – known as the ADA – tests oral products for effectiveness and safety. To attain the ADA seal of approval, a product must prove to be safe and effective. That’s why we suggest that you look for products with the ADA seal of approval. This will help you find a mouthwash that has been rigorously tested and approved by a legitimate association that advocates for oral health.

Is Mouthwash Safe for Children?

There are a number of mouthwashes that are designed specifically for children. They are usually alcohol free and feature popular children’s cartoons and come in flavors that kids enjoy like bubblegum, wild berry and grape. Mouthwash for kids is usually therapeutic and helps prevent cavities. It usually contains no alcohol and is easier on their mouth than cosmetic mouthwash. As a rule of thumb, mouthwash should not be used by children under the age of six. However, in some instances a pediatric dentist may prescribe mouthwash for a child beneath that age, but that usually only occurs in special cases. 

Is Mouthwash a Good Way to Clean Teeth?

Mouthwash is a great tool to help you get better teeth, but using mouthwash alone does not replace the value and effectiveness of a full oral health routine. A proper oral health routine includes brushing your teeth for two minutes at a time twice per day and flossing once per day to clean the hard-to-reach areas of your teeth.

Visit Our Office!

Mouthwash is a great tool to help you and your child get clean teeth and gums. If you would like more information about the types of mouthwash that are safe and effective for your kids, then schedule a visit to our office! We will talk with you and your child about the best mouthwash for their overall mouth health. 

Periodontal disease – more well known as gum disease – affects nearly half of Americans every year. Here’s some common signs of gum disease, and what to do if your child contracts periodontal disease.

5 Signs of Gum Disease 

1 – Bleeding gums that regularly occur during or after brushing.  

2 – Gum discoloration. Healthy gums are pink and firm, not red puffy and tender. 

3 – Gums receding or pulling away from the teeth. 

4 – Consistent bad breath that won’t go away. 

5 – Loose teeth that are not caused by impact or any other force.

Gingivitis vs. Periodontitis 

Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. Gingivitis is caused by excessive plaque buildup. If plaque is not removed, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, which causes gums to become red and puffy, and easily bleed.

Periodontitis is more serious than gingivitis and occurs when gingivitis is left untreated. Periodontitis is typically characterized by gum inflammation and recession and it typically progresses slowly, but rapid periods of progression can occur.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease is mostly caused by poor oral hygiene, which can lead to gingivitis. Other common causes are diabetes, use of certain medications, tobacco use, a poor diet, and genetic predisposition. However, most gum disease begins as simple gingivitis, which can be easily treated and prevented.

How to Prevent Gum Disease 

Gum disease can be prevented by maintaining a healthy oral routine – brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time and flossing once per day. You can also fight gum disease by visiting your dentist once or twice per year for a routine oral checkup and maintaining a healthier diet.

It’s Best to Treat Gum Disease Early 

Gum disease is best dealt with in its early stages making early diagnosis vital for successful treatment. Gum disease is also very nuanced and should be diagnosed by an oral health professional like a dentist or periodontist. Schedule an appointment with our office so that we can evaluate your child’s oral health, and provide them with a treatment plan that will help combat gum disease 

Christmas is a wonderful time of year to gather with family and shower your loved ones in gifts and excellent meals. But, before you stuff your family’s stockings with care, be sure that you’re not packing it with anything that will hurt your children’s teeth.

Candy Canes 

The penultimate Christmas candy and stocking stuffer, the candy cane is sadly, terrible for teeth. Candy Canes are basically 100% sugar, and excessive sugar can lead to cavities. Sugar feeds the harmful bacteria on your teeth, and creates acid that erodes enamel. This causes plaque and ultimately cavities, which is why you should limit the number of sugary snacks that you pack into your child’s stocking.

Peanut Brittle 

A holiday classic, peanut brittle is a type of very hard candy that is embedded with broken bits of nuts like pecans, peanuts and almonds – and all of that is bad news for teeth. The hard consistency of peanut brittle can chip and fracture teeth, and the sticky candy can get stuck in the hard-to-reach areas of teeth, and leave them more susceptible to cavities and tooth decay.

Old Fashioned Christmas Candy 

Once a year, Christmas stockings everywhere are filled with Old Fashioned Christmas Candy – and it’s terrible for teeth and tooth enamel. Old Fashioned Christmas Candy is a bag of unwrapped assorted hard candies of all sizes and flavors, and that makes them a really attractive option for kids sitting down for a candy binge. Each of those hard candies is capable of cracking teeth, and can stick onto the surface of teeth and fuel tooth decay and cavities long after snack time has ended. Sorry ribbon candy lovers, but we advise you keep the Old Fashioned Christmas Candy out of your family’s stockings this year.

If You Must Pack Candy, then Pack Water, Too

If you just can’t avoid packing any of the above Christmas classics, we don’t blame you. But, you can help your family’s oral health by imploring them to drink water after enjoying any holiday candy. Water helps rid the tooth surface of sugar and food debris, which helps prevent cavities and tooth decay. It also encourages healthy saliva production, which naturally cleans teeth and keeps the mouth at a healthy ph balance.

Try Mouth-Healthy Stocking Stuffers Instead  

Instead of candy, you can stuff stockings with mouth-healthy items that your children will use long after Christmas is over. Dental floss, a new toothbrush, and xylitol sweetened gum are all excellent stocking-stuffers that can help improve your loved one’s smiles, and keep their teeth clean and healthy.