“Should you use mouthwash before bed?”
I use mouthwash twice a day. Should you use mouthwash before bed?
12 Answers
It is generally recommended that patients use a suitable mouth rinse in the morning and in the evening before bedtime. This rationale is supported by scientific research. It is best to consult with your dentist on the type of mouth rinse for your particular situation.
Who doesn't want to feel super fresh as their head hits the pillow? Rinsing with a mouthwash for most patients is a great idea to be the final step. Using an antibacterial rinse or fluoride rinse is awesome! Some patients need to use a prescription toothpaste, so in that case, rinsing is NOT a good idea, since the idea is that the toothpaste stays on the teeth for at least 30 minutes. The other group of patients that need to be super careful about rinsing are the patients that suffer from dry mouth. These patients need to be fussy about which products they use, as some rinses could be drying.
Yes
Of course
yes
If you brush and floss well you will not need mouth wash am not a big fan of them all
Absolutely
The kind of mouthwash that you use really matters. The big brand mouth rinses like Scope and Listerine have removed alcohol from their formulas, but they still include ingredients that can dry your mouth. A dry mouth is more susceptible to cavities and inflammation. Also, big brand mouth rinses harm bad bacteria, but they also harm some of the good bacteria in our mouths. These bacteria help to protect us against inflammation, gum disease and cavities. Generally, I don't recommend that patients use mouthwash prior to bed. The ideal mouth (right before bed) is one that is free of dental plaque and other fuel sources for harmful bacteria and that is moistened by plentiful saliva. A mouth in this condition will be ready to remineralize tooth enamel and heal from inflammation. Big brand mouth rinses won't help and aren't necessary.
Yes. Before bed is an excellent time to brush, floss, and use a mouth wash.
Hi! Great question!
I personally recommend to all my patients to brush, floss and use a fluoridated mouthwash before going to bed. The fluoride helps to prevent cavities. Hope this helps!
I personally recommend to all my patients to brush, floss and use a fluoridated mouthwash before going to bed. The fluoride helps to prevent cavities. Hope this helps!
Saliva production and its benefits decrease during sleep. So, you are correct, going to bed with clean teeth is important. Clean teeth means plaque removal 360 degrees around each tooth. This is best accomplished with rubbing all in-between surfaces for plaque removal there, and brushing tongue side and cheek side to remove plaque there. If this is well done, mouthwash use is less important.
If this is not well done, or not done at all, mouthwash at bedtime would be important. Stannous fluoride gel could be this best mouth rinse to use under this circumstance. The book “GROWING A HEALTHY CHILD, SECRETS FROM A WISE OLD DOC” has the best information about through cleaning of the teeth and the use of stannous fluoride gel. Study this information to have the lowest risk of decay and the highest chance of excellent gum health.
I am glad you are interested in your oral health.
If this is not well done, or not done at all, mouthwash at bedtime would be important. Stannous fluoride gel could be this best mouth rinse to use under this circumstance. The book “GROWING A HEALTHY CHILD, SECRETS FROM A WISE OLD DOC” has the best information about through cleaning of the teeth and the use of stannous fluoride gel. Study this information to have the lowest risk of decay and the highest chance of excellent gum health.
I am glad you are interested in your oral health.
It definitely doesn't hurt! Mouthwash is mostly to help improve breath, but if you swish well, it can also help to remove some bacteria that might have been missed while brushing.
