You are going to the shop, and you are going to buy every product you have to use daily, for instance, toothpaste, toothbrush, tissue, and no one knows what else. The confusion is which to buy; there is that fluoridated toothpaste and there is that whitening toothpaste, on the other hand, there is that electric toothbrush and there are those manual ones and the confusion goes on. Even so, wait did not you think you missed another product. I am talking about mouthwash, which is equally important as the toothpaste or toothbrush.

Normal mouthwash and fluoride containing mouthwash are two different products. Normal mouthwash, mainly just freshen breath, and is of no help in cleaning of the teeth. Most normal mouthwashes contain alcohol, which is not appropriate for children under the age of 6, as these young children can swallow the mouthwash which is quite dangerous. If you have been enduring bad breath, you should consult a doctor, since it could be because of a health problem.

Fluoride containing mouthwash coats your teeth with fluoride, which is helpful in the prevention of cavities. Fluoride containing mouthwash should be used once or twice a day as prescribed by your doctor. Children who are of age 7 can start using fluoride containing mouthwash but only if they know it’s not a thing to swallow but to spit.

There are some medicated mouthwashes, which are prescribed by doctors when you have a specific condition like ulcers, infection of gum, or other problems like these. The medicated mouthwash may contain chlorhexidine gluconate, which helps in maintain oral health in those people who have the excessive tendency in the formation of plaque. However, this type of mouthwash is to be used for a short time period as their prolonged side effects can produce undesirable side effects.

Even so, the usage of mouthwash does not guarantee complete dental hygienic care. Physical plaque control i.e. tooth brushing is necessary and cannot be replaced by mouthwashes. Mechanical plaque control will always remain as the most important object in the prevention of dental diseases and maintenance of oral health.