In this era of heightened personal hygiene and health awareness, oral health has garnered increasing attention from individuals. Beyond routine tooth brushing and flossing, mouthwash, as an auxiliary oral cleansing product, has gradually become a staple in many households.
However, numerous “rumors” and “accusations” surrounding mouthwash have emerged, fostering doubts among people. Does long-term use of mouthwash cause oral cancer? Does it lead to oral flora imbalance? Can it darken teeth? This article will address these queries and delve into the truths about mouthwash.
I. Mouthwash: The Guardian of Oral Health
Firstly, it’s essential to clarify the basic concept of mouthwash. Mouthwash can be categorized into prescription and non-prescription types. Prescription mouthwash is primarily used as adjunctive therapy for periodontal diseases and oral mucosal diseases, usually under medical guidance.
Non-prescription mouthwash, on the other hand, is commonly seen in daily life and can be purchased from supermarkets, pharmacies, etc. This type of mouthwash typically contains ingredients with cleansing, antibacterial, and deodorizing properties, further cleansing the oral cavity and refreshing breath.
Mouthwash plays a vital role in oral care. While tooth brushing can remove most plaque on tooth surfaces, it often falls short in cleaning areas like tooth gaps, gingival margins, and soft tissue surfaces in the oral cavity.
Mouthwash, with its fluidity and rinsing power, can effectively eliminate plaque in these hard-to-clean areas, further reducing the risk of oral diseases. Additionally, mouthwash helps refresh breath, especially for individuals with stronger oral odors, making it an indispensable oral care product.
II. Are the “Accusations” Against Mouthwash True?
Accusation One: Long-term use of mouthwash causes oral cancer?
The claim linking mouthwash to oral cancer stems primarily from its alcohol content. Indeed, some mouthwashes contain higher concentrations of alcohol, making them somewhat harsh on the mouth. Prolonged exposure of alcohol in the oral cavity may lead to dryness. However, linking mouthwash directly to oral cancer lacks sufficient scientific evidence.
Although alcohol is established as a risk factor for oral cancer, the alcohol content in mouthwash is usually low, and users typically spit it out after a short dwell time in the mouth, resulting in minimal actual exposure.
Furthermore, no studies have conclusively linked mouthwash to oral cancer. Therefore, for most people, using alcohol-containing mouthwash does not increase the risk of oral cancer. Nevertheless, for high-risk groups such as children, alcoholics, and individuals with congenital alcohol metabolism disorders, using alcohol-free mouthwash is safer.
Accusation Two: Using mouthwash leads to oral flora imbalance?
The oral cavity is a complex microecosystem with numerous microorganisms maintaining a dynamic balance crucial for oral health. Thus, people worry that using mouthwash may disrupt this balance, causing oral flora imbalance.
However, this concern mainly applies to medicinal mouthwash. This type of mouthwash often contains antibacterial ingredients like chlorhexidine and compound iodine. Prolonged use of such mouthwash may indeed affect the oral flora, even causing drug resistance and allergic reactions.
Non-prescription mouthwash differs; it primarily contains cleansing and deodorizing ingredients without excessive antibacterial drugs. Therefore, using non-prescription mouthwash generally does not cause oral flora imbalance.
Accusation Three: Using mouthwash darkens teeth?
Some people notice their teeth darken after using mouthwash, raising significant doubts about it. However, this usually occurs with therapeutic mouthwash containing specific ingredients like chlorhexidine gluconate. While chlorhexidine gluconate inhibits plaque growth and prevents periodontal diseases, long-term use may cause plaque deposits on tooth surfaces, affecting tooth aesthetics.
For most non-prescription mouthwashes, they do not contain this ingredient. Although some may add pigments to enhance visual appeal, these pigments do not adhere to teeth and cause staining. Thus, using non-prescription mouthwash generally does not darken teeth.
III. How to Use Mouthwash Correctly?
Since mouthwash plays a crucial role in oral care and the accusations against it are not entirely valid or only apply to specific types, we should learn how to use mouthwash correctly to maintain oral health.
Firstly, we must understand that mouthwash cannot replace tooth brushing. Tooth brushing is the foundation of oral cleansing, physically removing plaque and food residue from tooth surfaces.
Mouthwash is an auxiliary means for further cleansing the oral cavity and refreshing breath. Therefore, always brush your teeth and floss before using mouthwash.
Secondly, choose the right mouthwash. For most people, a gentle, non-irritating non-prescription mouthwash satisfies daily needs. If there are specific oral issues (e.g., periodontal disease, oral ulcers), medicinal mouthwash should be used under medical guidance.
