Table of contents:
- Benefits of using mouthwash for teeth
- How to use mouthwash
- 1. Right step
- 2. Right way
- 3. Be on time
- 4. Routine
Brush your teeth twice a day every day is not enough to keep your teeth and mouth clean. Yes, in fact, toothbrushes are only able to reach 25 percent of the surface of the teeth, so that the germs that are between the teeth cannot be eradicated optimally. So, to keep your mouth area clean, you need tooth rinse.
Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to use mouthwash properly. If you are still confused, see the complete guide below.
Benefits of using mouthwash for teeth
Apart from helping to fight bacteria that build up in your mouth, mouthwash can work effectively to help freshen your breath, remove plaque, and help prevent cavities. Therefore, mouthwash is an important line of comprehensive oral and dental care.
However, it should be understood that mouthwash is not a medicine to treat various chronic oral and dental problems. If you experience complaints about the oral cavity, seeing a dentist is the most appropriate solution.
How to use mouthwash
So that the benefits of tooth rinse can be felt optimally, it is important for you to know how to use it properly. Lecturer at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia, drg. Sri Angky Soekanto, Ph.D., PBO shared tips on how to use mouthwash safely and correctly.
According to drg. When met by Sri Angky on Friday (9/11), there are four things that must be considered in using mouthwash. Among others are:
1. Right step
As mentioned above, a toothbrush alone is not enough to get rid of the bacteria that sticks to the surface of your gums or teeth. Therefore, it is needed rinsing , aka gargling after brushing your teeth so that the germs that are still on the surface of your teeth and gums can be cleaned thoroughly.
2. Right way
Use mouthwash according to the dosage, so don't overuse it. Using excessive doses of mouthwash will cause an overdose which has a negative impact on your body. Drg. Sri Angky said that using mouthwash in excess of the recommended dosage will actually cause dry mouth and trigger canker sores.
"Overdose (mouthwash) can vary, depending on our body. Some become dry immediately (their mouths), so canker sores, some are more susceptible to infection. Eating can also be sick. " said drg. Sri Angky who also serves as Chair of the Indonesian Dentist College (KDGI).
Even using an excessive dose of mouthwash can cause bacterial resistance. Yes, just like antibiotics, excessive use of mouthwash can actually make the bacteria in the mouth become resistant (resistant to drugs). Bacterial resistance makes bacteria continue to grow and multiply in the mouth.
Ideally, use as much as 20 ml of mouthwash. Then gargle right, left, then look up (but don't swallow) for at least 30 seconds. After that, remove the mouthwash from the mouth.
3. Be on time
Some people may think that the more often they gargle with mouthwash, the better the benefits will be. However, this assumption is in fact misleading.
In fact, gargling can protect the mouth area for 12 hours, so to get maximum results and a clean mouth, you should rinse your mouth regularly twice a day after brushing your teeth.
"Just like using antibiotics, there are chemicals that we use in the oral cavity. So we also have to be careful. We don't recommend more than twice. Again, just two times are just fine. " said drg. Sri Angky.
4. Routine
Similar to brushing your teeth, gargling with mouthwash must also be done regularly and continuously (every day). This is done so that the benefits of mouthwash can be felt optimally.
It is important to understand that mouthwash only helps reduce bacteria and germs, it cannot completely clean the oral cavity. Therefore, make sure you brush your teeth regularly.
