3436: Are there Clear Benefits to Using Mouthwash? Does Mouth Wash Fight Bad Breath? on Dental Hygiene

[00:00:00] So good, so good, so good. New markdowns up to 70% off are at Nordstrom Rack stores now. Stock up and stay big on shoes, tops, dresses, accessories, and more must-haves for summer. Join the Nordiclub to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first, and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack.

[00:00:25] It's another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily, and I'm Dr. Neal Malik. Hey there, happy Friday, and welcome to another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily, where I answer your health questions related to fitness, diet and nutrition, and lots more. You send in the questions, and I answer them for you. All right, and with that, let's hear today's question as we optimize your life.

[00:00:54] Today's question came via email. Brian writes, When it comes to dental hygiene, there are a lot of proven benefits to brushing and flossing. Are there clear benefits to using mouthwash? If yes, are there specific types that are better than others? Thank you for taking the time to send in your question, Brian, and you're absolutely right. When it comes to maintaining oral health, nothing beats regular brushing and flossing.

[00:01:21] Mouthwashes, sometimes called mouth rinses, can be beneficial. It just depends on what we're using the mouthwash for. Now, there are basically two types of mouthwashes, cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic mouthwashes really don't have any long-term benefits. These are the mouthwashes used when we might need a quick rinse to relieve bad breath, for example.

[00:01:45] Therapeutic mouthwashes are those that have specific ingredients that help improve oral health over the longer term. So, therapeutic mouthwashes may include ingredients that not only help kill bacteria associated with bad breath, but also decrease the risk of developing gingivitis, which is basically inflammation of the gums, removing dental plaque or reducing dental plaque, and maintaining tooth strength.

[00:02:09] So, in short, Brian, yes, mouthwashes can be beneficial, but it really depends on what we're looking for. For example, if the goal is to reduce bad breath specifically, then you might look for a certain mouthwash for that. If we're looking for a mouthwash that covers bad breath, removing dental plaque or reducing dental plaque, and reducing our risk for gingivitis over the long term, then finding a mouthwash that contains a combination of ingredients may be helpful.

[00:02:37] So, if we want to, let's say, reduce bad breath, dental plaque, and reduce our risk for gingivitis over the longer term, we may want to find a mouthwash that contains a combination of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride. Some may also add zinc lactate. All of those ingredients can be helpful for all those conditions I just described.

[00:03:02] Now, chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride help kill common bacteria found in the mouth, which is why they're effective for these conditions. But keep in mind, these compounds are actually increasing our risk for tooth staining too. Now, mouthwashes that contain fluoride can be helpful for restoring the integrity of our teeth, and when it comes to tooth whitening, mouthwashes that contain hydrogen peroxide can help.

[00:03:29] So, then we may need to find a mouthwash that contains all of those ingredients, if all of those things are important to us. Now, there are some concerns that some of these ingredients can lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and other similar ingredients. So, in response, oral health products made from natural ingredients are becoming more common. But we need to be careful about these.

[00:03:54] This is because some of these natural products are not necessarily as effective. There are also potential risks when using alcohol-based mouthwashes. Now, alcohol is added to mouthwashes because it can serve as a preservative, it helps improve taste, but it also can help reduce plaque. Now, alcohol concentrations can vary pretty widely depending on the brand of mouthwash.

[00:04:20] For example, some products have alcohol concentrations around 5%, where others can be as high as 25% or more. Again, alcohol in mouthwash serves a number of functions, but it is most helpful for reducing dental plaque, which is why it's commonly used. The problem is, we know that too much alcohol exposure over the long term can increase disease risk. And of course, we know alcohol can come from a number of different sources, not just mouthwash.

[00:04:50] Beer, wine, hard liquor, all of that can add to our alcohol exposure. And we know that too much alcohol exposure over the long term can increase disease risk. For example, we know longer-term alcohol exposure to the mouth can increase the risk for cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus. So, if we want to play it safe, it may be a good idea to avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes specifically.

[00:05:17] In fact, when shopping for the right mouthwash, it's a good idea to make sure that it was approved by the American Dental Association, or ADA. This is because products that have this seal of approval have been shown to be safe to use, and any claims they make have been backed by science. And to repeat, using mouthwash is not considered a replacement for regular brushing and flossing. As you said, Brian, those are the best methods for preserving oral health. But depending on what we want from our mouthwash,

[00:05:48] therapeutic mouthwashes can provide some extra benefits, like helping control bad breath, decreasing the risk of developing gingivitis, strengthening our teeth, and helping to keep them white. When summer rolls around, I sweat just thinking about how heavy my clothes are. This year, I finally fixed that, thanks to Quince. They make high-quality essentials that look and feel amazing, with breathable linen and soft organic cotton, without the luxury markup.

[00:06:17] Their European linen pants and shirts are the perfect warm weather upgrade, starting at just $34. And everything at Quince is priced 50-80% less than similar brands, because they work directly with ethical factories and cut out the middlemen. A piece that changed my summer is their Italian swim trunk. I love swimming, and these are quick drying with UPF 50 protection, available in different lengths. They resist fading, pilling, and snagging. Great from the beach to the backyard barbecue.

[00:06:47] Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to quince.com slash OHD for free shipping on your order, and 365-day returns, now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E dot com slash OHD for free shipping, and 365-day returns. Quince.com slash OHD. If you're a small business, the right hire can be make or break.

[00:07:15] Hoping the right people see your job posting isn't the best growth strategy. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs. Join the 3.3 million employers worldwide that use Indeed to connect with quality talent that fits their needs. Spend less time searching, and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. When you need the right person to cut through the chaos,

[00:07:43] this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. And listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at indeed.com slash podcast. Just go to indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire?

[00:08:11] This is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. Thank you again for taking the time to send in your question, Brian. Now, if you want to send me a question and have it answered right here on the show, you can email one to health at oldpodcast.com. We'll even give you a copy of our Optimal Living Daily Workbook just for submitting a question. Or if you want your voice played on an episode, come by oldpodcast.com slash ask. Right on that page,

[00:08:40] you can record your question straight from your computer's microphone. It's really easy. You can even play back your message and do retakes before sending it in. Or you can do it the old fashioned way and call in your question. The number is 1-61-ILOVE-OHD. That's 1-614-568-3643. All right, that'll do it for another Q&A edition of Optimal Health Daily. Thank you so much for listening every day and all the way through.

[00:09:10] I hope you have a great start to your weekend and I'll see you back here again tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.