What Is The Best Mouthwash For Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is one of the most common forms of gum disease, but fortunately, it’s also one of the most easily treatable, provided you follow your dentist’s advice and follow proper oral health practices. One of the most important things you can do to ensure your mouth stays healthy is to use mouthwash. However, there are many types of mouthwash on the market today, and not all of them are formulated to deal with the same issues as effectively as others.

If your dentist has diagnosed gingivitis, you’ll need to step up your game beyond brushing and flossing; and start using a mouthwash that helps reverse and prevent gingivitis before it leads to something more serious. The following guide should help you determine which mouthwash should be a part of your gingivitis treatment, but be sure to ask your dentist if you have further questions.

What Is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue typically caused by a reaction to plaque on the surface of the teeth. Patients who have gingivitis normally have swollen gums that are painful to the touch, and in many cases bleed during brushing or flossing. If gingivitis is not properly treated, it can lead to periodontitis, which can result in serious damage to the gums and eventually tooth loss.

Getting rid of plaque is the key to preventing gingivitis, and the best way to do this is through regular brushing and flossing. However, a good mouthwash — when added to a regular regimen of brushing and flossing as recommended by your dentist — is an effective form of preventative dentistry because it can help kill the bacteria that can eventually build up into plaque. There is no shortage of different types of mouthwash on the market, so you need to pay close attention to what type of mouthwash you’re buying and read the ingredients carefully.

Fluoride rinses:

Many popular types of mouthwash contain fluoride to coat the teeth and strengthen tooth enamel, preventing cavities. Although these types of mouthwashes help strengthen your teeth, they won’t do anything to prevent or treat gum disease because fluoride won’t work with the antibacterial ingredients that fight plaque. If you see fluoride listed as one of the ingredients of your mouthwash, you should probably consider finding a different one to combat your gingivitis.

Breath fresheners:

Some mouthwashes are focused on getting rid of bad breath, or at least masking it. Because many of these brands use antibacterial ingredients as a means of eliminating bad breath, they can be useful in preventing gingivitis. Although, you should check with your dentist to make sure you don’t need something stronger. A growing number of new mouthwashes focused on eliminating bad breath have cropped up in recent years with chlorine dioxide as a primary ingredient. These may be effective at neutralizing bacteria that can cause bad breath, but may not do much to fight the bacteria that cause plaque and gingivitis.

Antibacterial rinses:

There are many over-the-counter mouthwashes that contain antibacterial ingredients that can help prevent gum disease when combined with proper brushing and flossing, and these are the ones most often recommended by dentists for treating and preventing gingivitis. These often contain essential oils that kill bacteria, such as thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate and menthol. Although these are the most effective types of over-the-counter mouthwashes to fight gingivitis, they aren’t as strong as mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine, because they don’t last as long inside the mouth. Chlorhexidine is only available in prescription-strength mouthwashes because it can cause staining of teeth and its use should be monitored by your dentist.

If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to much more serious trouble down the road for your gums and teeth. Brushing and flossing as recommended by your dentist are the most important steps you can take to prevent gingivitis. Though adding the right mouthwash to your routine can be helpful in preventing the buildup of plaque and ridding your mouth of the bacteria that can cause gingivitis.

If you’re looking for a mouthwash that can aid you specifically in preventing or treating gingivitis, talk to your dentist first and foremost. But the next time you’re at the pharmacy or drugstore, take a moment to read the ingredients of your preferred mouthwash and be sure that the active ingredients will actually make a difference. Not all mouthwashes are created equal, so do your research or contact us with any questions!

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