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Home  Dentistry Articles Mouthwash
Mouthwash
Antiseptic mouth rinse, often called mouthwash,
is an oral hygiene product that claims to kill the germs that
cause plaque, gingivitis, and bad breath. The common mouthwash,
Listerine, was named after the person responsible for inventing
antiseptic medical procedures, Joseph Lister. It is used by
people interested in good oral health, protecting themselves
from bad breath causing bacteria. It often comes in a mint,
cinnamon or clove flavor.
Proper use involves rinsing one's mouth with
usualy 20 milliliters of antiseptic mouth rinse two times a
day after brushing. One then spits out the mouthwash and rinses
the mouth with water.
Active ingredients can include thymol, eucalyptol,
methyl salicylate, menthol, chlorhexidine gluconate, hydrogen
peroxide and sometimes enzymes. Ingredients also include water,
and a significant amount of alcohol (around 20%). Because of
the alcohol conent, it is possible to fail a breath analyzer
test after rinsing one's mouth.
Bacteria often become resistant to active ingredients
in the mouthwash, lessening its effectiveness.
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