Mouthwash: how to choose it well?

The importance of effective, daily and thorough tooth brushing is now common knowledge (at least we hope so 🤞). Today, many people add other complementary tools to their oral hygiene routine . From dental floss to water flossers to interdental brushes ( Find out the correct way to use interdental brushes beforehand.), there are now multiple options for perfecting your toothbrushing 👐.

However, the method that the greatest number of people opt for is mouthwash. 🧪

Although its effectiveness against bad breath is widely known to everyone, a multitude of types of mouthwash have appeared on store shelves, and it is sometimes difficult to choose the perfect mouthwash, the one that will offer the most beneficial benefits. more suited to our oral needs 🤷‍♀️.

To help you see things more clearly, MyVariations has sorted out the mouthwashes...

Indeed, there are many types of mouthwashes with different benefits that address different oral and dental problems. Also, it is important to be well informed about the different types available on the market in order to make the right choice. 🧐

These solutions with purifying properties contain several antiseptic active ingredients which fight against the development of bacteria in the oral cavity and on the tongue. Although not all of them are harmful and do not need to be eliminated (especially bacteria from the tongue , which does not need to be brushed). These same bacteria are responsible for the very common problem of bad breath 😷 (or halitosis) as well as the formation of dental plaque , public enemy number 1. The antiseptics in these mouthwashes, most often made from chlorexidine or hexetidine (two antiseptics with bactericidal properties), also help relieve slight inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) before they get worse, or even canker sores 👅. Although effective, these mouthwashes should be used sparingly (1 to 2 weeks at a time, at most), otherwise you may suffer certain adverse effects. To give you a few examples, excessive use of antiseptic mouthwashes can cause an imbalance in the oral flora , an alteration or modification of taste, or even discoloration of the teeth in certain cases 🦷.

If you tend to often have mouth ulcers, gingivitis or bleed when brushing your teeth 🩸, healing mouthwashes are for you. Indeed, this type of solution generally contains mild anti-inflammatories, coupled with healing agents, and sometimes fluoride in small quantities. Fluoride (when present) strengthens the enamel by helping to slow down dental erosion , and the mucous membranes, anti-inflammatories relieve the pain of irritated gums and healing agents help reduce bleeding 🌡. A perfect cocktail to ensure you brush your teeth without pain or blood, and a mouth without mouth ulcers. Here too, you should not overuse healing mouthwashes because they generally contain alcohol which can damage your oral flora 🧬. Their use should not exceed 2 consecutive weeks ☝️.

The fluoride found in these healing formulas is also present in the form of fluoride salts in mouthwashes intended to treat dental hypersensitivity to sugar , to touch, to hot cold or for no particular reason 🤕. If fluoride is very beneficial and safe for your oral and overall health when it is correctly dosed, it should not be abused at the risk of deteriorating it.

Aimed at protecting tooth enamel from cavities, these mouthwashes are intended for people with particularly thin tooth enamel as well as those who wear orthodontic appliances (notably braces). Each of these cases makes brushing your teeth more complicated, whether because of increased tooth sensitivity or more difficult access to all tooth surfaces 🪥. This can then increase the risk of developing cavities, a risk which requires additional protection of the teeth and their enamel 🙆‍♂️.

Pure or diluted in water if it is too strong for your taste, the mouthwash must be kept in the mouth for 1 to 2 minutes without swallowing (we insist, without swallowing! 👈).

Indeed, mouthwash consists of bathing the teeth and oral mucous membranes, it is in no way a drink or even a medicine to swallow🥤. Therefore, they should not be used in children under 3 years old. They can be used in children from 6 years old, unless they are not yet completely capable of not swallowing it at this age.👶 Therefore, we advise you to always consult your dentist if in doubt . 🩺

However, we would like to emphasize that although mouthwashes are important allies in maintaining good oral hygiene, they cannot at all replace daily tooth brushing with the correct method . 😉 The UFSBD (French Union for Oral Health) recommends brushing your teeth correctly 2 to 3 times a day for 2 minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste adapted. To make brushing your teeth easier, many dentists recommend electric toothbrushes , particularly those using sonic technology, which are effective and gentle on enamel and to keep gums healthy 👄.

Discover our toothbrushes

MyVariations sonic electric toothbrushes also offer an integrated 2-minute timer ⏳ (with a small pause every 30 seconds) allowing you to respect the optimal duration of toothbrushing, while helping users to effectively divide the operation between the 4 dials of the mouth 🤗.

The answer is yes ! There are several natural products and elements that can be used to make a natural and “homemade” mouthwash 🏠. To know :

• Cloves: a product known for its anesthetic and antibacterial properties, it is very often found in grandmothers' recipes for dental hygiene 👵🏼. How to use it ? By infusing three cloves in a glass of lukewarm water, which you then filter, and voilà! You now have an effective mouthwash against dental plaque and bleeding gums 🤩. This solution can also calm toothache or pain linked to dentin hypersensitivity. (Be careful though, this natural mouthwash is single use and cannot be kept 😕).
• Baking soda : also common in treatment recipes, particularly in homemade “whitening” mixtures, this product is very effective against bad breath 🥴. This powder can also have a mild scaling effect, which, in addition to removing plaque, can help combat bleeding gums. To use it, it's very simple. After brushing your teeth, dilute a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water and use the mixture as your mouthwash (be careful, the taste is not very pleasant 🤢). Don't forget to rinse your mouth after use to avoid deposits (and remove the bitter and very salty taste of the bicarbonate) 🚰.

In order to perfect your tooth brushing and provide additional care to your teeth, mouthwashes are, for the most part, effective and easy to use. 👌 Used without excess (not to exceed 2 consecutive weeks), they are perfect allies, but you need to know how to choose the mouthwash suited to your needs. So, we will choose:

• An antiseptic mouthwash : if you are prone to bad breath and want to eliminate the bacteria responsible for it. With their purifying properties and their various antiseptic and bactericidal active ingredients, these mouthwashes can also help relieve slight inflammation of the gums 👍.

• A healing mouthwash : if you suffer from chronic gingivitis and/or frequent bleeding when brushing. When these solutions contain fluoride, they can also help strengthen enamel and mucous membranes, very useful benefits if you have teeth that are particularly sensitive to touch or recurrent mouth ulcers 🤒.

• A protective mouthwash : it is aimed at people for whom brushing their teeth is a little more difficult. Those who have very thin tooth enamel or even orthodontic appliances (like braces). It makes it easier to eliminate bacteria and therefore prevent the development of cavities 😣.

Regarding the instructions for using mouthwashes, it is generally the same for everyone (even if you must read the product instructions carefully before using it 🤓). Diluted with a little water or pure, you must rinse the entire oral cavity using the solution, and keep it in your mouth for 1 to 2 minutes (2 minutes is better 😜) WITHOUT L 'SWALLOW. Then spit it out. And There you go !

Now that you know how to choose your mouthwash according to your needs, why not do the same with your toothbrush? Rather rotary or sonic ? 🧐