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You’ve been brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and it is with a lot of enthusiasm that you are congratulating yourself on being so diligent with your oral hygiene routine. But wait a minute; you’re still leaving something out.

What? What? What?

Mouthwash!

Rinsing with a mouthwash is important for more than just giving your breath that minty punch you love so much. In a recently conducted study, the results of which were published in the Academy of General Dentistry’s journal, it was revealed that mouthwash helped reduce gingivitis and plaque. In fact, it proved to be more effective than just brushing your teeth.

The study involved more than 130 participants, all of whom were suffering from moderate gingivitis and plaque. Divided into two sections, one group was asked to brush and rinse with a germ killing mouthwash twice a day while the other group was given a placebo mouthwash. Then, their oral hygiene habits were monitored over a period of 6 months.

At the end of this duration, it was observed that the first group – the one that was using the germ-killing mouthwash – showed better results. The buildup of gingivitis was reduced by 20% and plaque build-up also dropped by more than 25%.

Dental practitioners explain these remarkable results by pointing out that mouth rinses had the ability to reach nearly every corner of the mouth’s surface. Brushing and flossing, on the other hand, focused only on the teeth, which accounted for only 25% of the entire mouth.

Yet another factor that went in favor of mouthwashes was that people weren’t in the habit of brushing and flossing regularly. However, just by adding mouthwash to the oral care routine, they were able to fight against germs that lead to periodontal complications.

There are other benefits that come from using a mouthwash regularly. It reduces incidents of cavities, prevents de-mineralization of the teeth, soothes canker sores, and helps fight periodontal diseases. Pregnant women, especially, should be wary of the last, since they expose themselves to great risk unknowingly by ignoring their dental hygiene.

Periodontal diseases have been linked to birth of pre-term babies. As the bacteria travelled from the gums into the expecting mother’s bloodstream, it lead to an increase in inflammatory markers, thereby stimulating contractions and leading to premature birth. A study recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology outlined that expecting mothers who rinsed with a mouthwash throughout the term of their pregnancy were not that likely to have pre-term labor.

As you can see (and like we mentioned before), mouthwash does more than mask foul odor and give you fresher breath. It is integral to the health of your teeth and body. That said, mouthwash cannot be used as a substitute for brushing and flossing. It has to be used in conjunction with them. In fact, if you are truly concerned about the health of your teeth, you cannot pick and choose from these 3. Each is incomplete without the other and all 3 have to be incorporated into your daily routine for the best results.