3 Most Important Ingredients in Mouthwash to Look For

Posted on 7/20/2019 by Doctor Schwei

There are many things in commercial mouthwash that are simply unnecessary. These include things like mint flavoring. The opposite is also true in that there are some very important ingredients that you'll want to make sure your mouthwash contains.

What to Look for in Your Mouthwash

When you're shopping for mouthwash you want to make sure that it first of all, contains an active ingredient to fight bacteria. This should be either cetylpyridinium chloride, zinc gluconate, or quaternary ammonium. Sometimes essential oils may be used, including thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, or menthol.

Once you're sure that your mouthwash can fight off any bacteria that's found in your mouth, you'll want to make sure that it also contains some fluoride. This is important because it helps prevent plaque from building up on your teeth. It will also fight off gingivitis, which is the mildest form of gum disease.

The third ingredient that you should look for when you're shopping for a mouthwash is zinc chloride. This is an astringent that's used to help shrink your gum tissues. It will also leave your mouth with a pleasant taste, as well as a pleasant feeling.

What Your Mouthwash Shouldn't Contain

Once you've found a mouthwash that contains these ingredients, there are other ingredients that you'll want to make sure that it doesn't contain. The primary ingredient you'll want to watch out for and be sure to avoid is ethyl alcohol in the range of 18% - 26%.

This is bad because while it'll temporarily kill any germs in your mouth, it also reduces the amount of saliva that's found there. Ultimately, this will make your bad breath even worse.

Otherwise the only thing left to do is decide which flavoring agent you want such as either saccharin or glycerin and if you do or don't want there to be any artificial coloring there. If you have any questions or concerns about any of these things, you can call our office and schedule a time to talk to us about it.

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