There are so many mouthwash brands available in the market that one tends to get rather confused about which mouthwash to use. Moreover, with the on going debate about how good mouthwash is, the bigger question is whether or not one should use a mouthwash at all.
There are so many people all around the world who would not recommend you to use a mouthwash for your bad breath but then again there are those who will tell you how a particular mouthwash helped them combat their bad breath problem.
Alcohol or Alcohol Free For Bad Breath?
Most mouthwashes that are available in the market are alcohol based. In fact, people all around the world have been using alcohol based mouthwashes for years. However, most experts would tell you that the alcohol based mouth washes are not effective in combating bad breath. According to several oral health professionals all over the world, alcohol could in fact make the situation worse and cause more bad breath.
This is because, alcohol is a drying agent. Thus, when you wash your mouth with an alcohol based mouthwash, it tends to dry up more. In dry conditions, the bacteria in your mouth are able to act upon the food in your mouth in a more efficient manner, which ultimately results in bad breath. Alcohol in the mouthwash tends to suck in the moisture from the oral tissues and also slows down the flow of saliva in the mouth tremendously.
However, on the other hand, several mouthwash brands that are justify the use of alcohol in mouthwashes by saying that these tend to be more effective. According to the brands, alcohol in the mouthwash tends to penetrate the plaque in the mouth more effectively, than any other compound. Besides, the brands also say that if used as instructed their mouthwash works effectively.
On the other hand, there are experts who claim that alcohol based mouthwash are carcinogenic and could result in oral cancer. However, one cannot deny the fact, that when used right, alcohol based mouthwash do give the best results.
Today, brands that earlier made only alcohol based mouthwashes are coming up with alcohol free, fluoride based mouthwashes. The fluoride based mouthwashes that are available in the market, are quite effective in curing bad breath and also ensure pearly white teeth.
Using a Mouthwash to Combat Bad Breath
However, it is not only the kind of mouth wash that you use that will help you combat bad breath, but also how you use your mouthwash. Most oral health professionals recommend that you use a mouthwash, one hour after brushing, otherwise, the anionic components from the toothpaste, tend to interfere with the cationic components of the mouthwash and rendering it ineffective. Besides, a mouthwash should not be used as an alternative for flossing or brushing.
Although, most people want to play safe by using an alcohol free mouthwash, there are several people around the world who are taking to other alternatives. These include salt and warm water mouth wash and cheweing on herbs. The salt and warm water mouthwash is very popular in the eastern and oriental nations like India and China. Besides, it is very easy to prepare and quite cheap too.