You’ve no doubt heard many a mouthwash advertisement that claims mouthwash is just as effective as floss in maintaining your oral health. Is this actually true? Find out in this week’s blog!
Mouthwash vs. Flossing
The short answer is: no mouthwash is not as effective as flossing. Here’s the long answer.
Why Flossing is More Effective than Mouthwash
The goal of both flossing and mouthwash is to eliminate colonies of bacteria that live in the film of plaque that builds up naturally on your teeth. Over time, these bacteria can cause tooth decay, staining, gum disease, and a number of other problems. So, it’s important that we get rid of them.
Flossing works to eliminate these bacteria by physically disrupting the film of plaque on your teeth. The string breaks up this film, which then makes it easier for you to remove plaque by brushing. (This is why you should always floss before you brush your teeth.)
Most mouthwash uses alcohol to kill bacteria. And while mouthwash is good at killing bacteria, it’s not as good as floss as breaking up plaque. And plaque is actually fairly protective of the bacteria living inside the film. So while mouthwash might kill those bacteria on the surface of plaque, those living inside will escape unharmed. And despite what you may see on mouthwash commercials, floss really can reach into spaces between teeth that mouthwash cannot, making it better at removing food particles and removing plaque.
Winner: Flossing
Make no mistake about it, mouthwash is no substitute for flossing at getting rid of plaque buildup on your teeth. The best time to floss is before you go to bed, because you’ll be able to remove all of the food particles that have accumulated there during the day. Floss before you brush your teeth so your toothbrush can lift away the film of plaque that has been loosened by flossing.
About Olney Dental
Olney Dental has been providing comprehensive dental care for residents of Olney and the surrounding area since 1985. We’re conveniently located on the campus of Montgomery General Hospital, and provide care for all ages for children to adults and seniors. We’re also independently owned by our dentists, which allows us be patient driven in our approach to dentistry. Your smiles make us smile! You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube.