Is mouthwash, such as Listerine, any good for dental health?

I brush and floss daily (although I only brush once a day, but the $60 toothbrush seems to do a good job, and it has a timer on it so that I brush for at least 2 minutes and it both rotates to the sides and pulsates in and out and seems to do much better than manual toothbrushes). I also have some orange flavored Listerine mouthwash. However, I don't use it very often because I hate it when you accidentally swallow small amounts of it. Does mouthwash do much to prevent gum disease? I've heard from several sources that gum disease may be linked to health problems in other parts of the body because germs go from your mouth to your bloodstream.





If it's all not that healthy to swallow little bits and pieces of mouthwash and if it doesn't do much, I'd rather not use it, but if it does a lot and isn't all that bad when you swallow a little now and then accidentally, it may be a good idea to use it.





Is mouthwash very effective? Does it do much harm if you accidentally swallow a little?

Is mouthwash, such as Listerine, any good for dental health?
Yes, cleanses. Cleaning is a good thing.
Reply:use a mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda on your gums to prevent gum disease. Mix it into a paste and work it into your gums at the base of your teeth.
Reply:i heard it is very effective so take my advice and my dentist's that it helps a little. although i don't think it's very serious if u swallow some u are much better off not swallowing any at all!
Reply:My dentist told me to stay away from listerine. It is very bad for the enamel on your teeth. It actually weakens it and once the enamel is gone, there's no getting it back. Brushing twice a day and flossing sufficient. Chewing gum, like Orbit is good too.
Reply:yeah mouthwash is good for getting rid of breath that stinks and after cleaning your teeth for extra cleanliness.....and of course swallowing a tiny amount isn't harmful


peace@love=0)
Reply:If you have to use mouthwash, you should probably stick to something with no alcohol and has fluoride.





But, speaking as someone who spends a lot of time at the dentist, she always has the same advice: it's more important to floss well than to rinse with mouthwash.
Reply:yes using mouthwash is very good for you. Even a $60 toothbrush doesn't get everything and the mouthwash goes where you can't reach to kill the germs. Besides if you read the label on the bottle it says as long as you don't swallow more than is used for rinsing you will be fine. Just don't drink the bottle.
Reply:Yes, it's effective, so keep using it. And I don't care how good your toothbrush is, you need to brush at least twice a day. Plaque builds right back up so you need to remove it again. Two minutes is a long enough time to brush, but only if you're brushing correctly. You really need to get in between your teeth. If you're not sure if you're brushing correctly then Listerine is good to use for the germs you might have missed. It won't harm you if it's swallowed. It's formulated to be in your mouth and ingesting small amounts won't hurt you.

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