Mouthwash: Pros & Cons
“Brush and floss, brush and floss!”
Those are the words that are murmured over and over again by our
hygienists here at Periodontal Associates, and in conjunction with that advice, Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, and Dr. Eric Beckman always make a point to
remind their Aurora patients about the benefits of using mouthwash regularly,
especially for our patients who complete gum graft treatment.
Let’s first explore the plethora
of positive outcomes that occur from mouthwash use. Mouthwash is not used in replacement of
brushing and flossing, but the ingredients found in mouthwash help prevent and
break away tartar and plaque, freshen breath, reduce gingivitis, and prevent
tooth decay. This liquid is able to flow
through hard to reach surfaces as an extra safety barrier against bacteria as brushing
cleans only the cheek, tongue, and biting surfaces of the teeth. Periodontal disease starts and does its
greatest damage between the teeth so mouthwash is best when combined with
regular brushing and flossing to reach those most neglected places. Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman rely on such mouth rinses for
their periodontal patients to fight inflammation, and many patients with gum grafts will use mouthwash multiple times a day to keep it clean as directly
brushing around gum grafts is delayed during healing.
Are there cons to using this mouth rinse? The problems with mouth rinses are very
few. The only concern to be aware of is
for those with allergies. As we age allergies
can dissipate, but allergies can also first appear later in adult life as
researchers believe it can be triggered by some sort of virus or infection. Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman warn their
Aurora patients to be proactive about their health and allergies as some
patients can be allergic to antiseptic chlorhexidine and must be cautious about
mouthwash. Symptoms of mouthwash
allergies can be the presence of a rash, itching or more severe reaction s can
cause patients to faint or feel light headed due to a drop in blood pressure. If you suffer from these allergies, please
contact Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman at Periodontal Associates so they can
help you find the best products to safely enhance your oral health.
As you have read, there are many more positive notions about using
mouthwash regularly versus not at all, and researchers strive to only increase
the benefits of this refreshing mouth rinse.
A new iodine mouthwash has been discovered to safely fight gingivitis
while also lowering LDL cholesterol. The
Biomedical Development Corporation has already run a successful three month trial. The center for Oral Health Research at the
University of Kentucky will also continue to follow this new rinse in their own
trials. The iodine mouthwash is hoped to
be used once a day for a 30 second time period.
The iodine helps the thyroid function which then boosts the body’s
immune response system. The mouthwash
will not only fight bacteria in the mouth and gums, but it will also increase
defenses again bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the entire body. This is good news for Drs. Versman, Heller,
and Beckman as many of our patients in the Denver metro area are at risk for
other system disease due to their moderate to severe gum disease. Research studies have shown that there is a
strong association between periodontal disease and other chronic conditions
such as diabetes, heart disease, pregnancy complications, and respiratory disease.
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Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman would like to thank you for taking the time to visit their blog and we would love to hear from you!
For more information, to schedule an appointment or a dental consultation, please visit us at www.periodontalhealth.com