Synonyms in a broader sense
Dental care, dental cleaning, professional tooth cleaning, toothbrush, electric toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth shower, mouthwash
Introduction
Mouthwash is not a substitute for toothbrush and toothpaste. It is, however, a useful addition to your oral and dental care at home. A rinse with mouthwash after brushing teeth also penetrates into the hard to reach interdental spaces and removes food residues and loose remains of plaque.
An additional effect is the feeling of freshness due to the essential oils as additives. Mouthwash is offered either as a concentrate or as a ready-to-use solution (mouthwashes). Mouthwash can also be used as a liquid for the mouth shower. Meridol mouthrinse or Listerine mouthrinse are examples of different mouthwash suppliers.
Composition
All mouthwashes contain ethanol, an alcohol in often quite high concentrations. Therefore, “dry” alcoholics must not use mouthwashes, as this can lead to a relapse. The alcohol causes the essential oils to dissolve in water.
The other ingredients are very diverse. The medicinal mouthwash or mouthwash contains as antiseptic mainly antibacterial substances like chlorhexidine (which is also often used in toothpaste) or cetylpyridinium chloride. Fluoride as an ingredient is also used as a prophylaxis against caries and to strengthen the tooth enamel. An example of the composition of a mouthwash concentrate for fresh breath:
- Ethanol (94.7 %) 80.00
- Sodium cyclamate 0,15
- Aroma 3,50 %
- Water, desalinated 16,34 %
- Dye 0.01 %
Indication
Originally, the mouthwash was intended as a prophylactic against caries when a pharmacist Lingner in Dresden launched the first mouthwash on the market. However, a mouthwash cannot meet this requirement. Rather, it only serves to intensify the cleaning effect and to prevent the formation of new plaque.
In addition it can help against plaque on the tongue and gives a fresh breath and thus works well against bad breath. Medical mouthwashes are a therapeutic agent for inflammations in the mouth and front throat area. In the case of difficult conditions of oral hygiene such as broken jaw splints or intensive care of physically or mentally handicapped people, they take the place of mechanical cleaning. However, this is of course only a stopgap measure and does not replace actual dental care.
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