“Will mouthwash erode my teeth enamel?”
I have extremely bad breath and I often use mouthwash because of it. Will this cause my tooth enamel to erode?
19 Answers
If you are experiencing mouth odor. It is most distressing to you. Have you seen your dentist? Do you have any cavities. Do you floss and brush your teeth twice a day? If you have gum disease, you have to clean the area below your gum area. Your breath is TELLING you that you have bacteria, bacteria waste products and spoiled food in your mouth. You also have bacteria, bacteria waste products around your bone where your roots are. This is what's getting into your blood stream traveling around all parts of your body. Mouth washes maybe work for a while, but once the bacteria have multiplied back, the odor returns. You mentioned nothing about your home care. Get to your dentist, have your teeth cleaned. Ask questions about how to floss and brush. What you do to take care of your mouth affects you. I tell my patients when I ask questions about your mouth care, answer these questions to yourself. Just by looking at your teeth your dentist knows what mouth care you are doing. I have patients telling me they brush 16 times a day. Maybe it was yesterday or today you brushed. Just by looking at your mouth, your dentist knows. Your dentist will work with you to get your mouth healthy. Just visiting the dentist twice a year will not save your teeth and keep you healthy. Your teeth are in your mouth 24/7. You can't get your mouth back to health without YOU.
Too much of anything is not good. Try flossing and brushing more and check with your dentist for gum disease or anything else.
Any mouthwash approved by the American Dental Association should be safe.
No, but find the cause of your bad breath.
No.
Get a dental evaluation to see what is causing the bad breath. Most commercial mouthrinses will not erode otherwise healthy teeth.
Interesting question! Bad breath or halitosis has several different causes. Some serious and some just maintenance issues. In dental Sleep medicine we find often mouth breathers who have sinus congestion will have severe bad breath due to dry mouth and often a fungal issue. We have excellent products available only in dental offices for that purpose. Safe and “holistic” but effective for many. Also gum infection or gingivitis (and also more involved periodontal infection) will cause bad breath. Most patients will improve significantly with a thorough evaluation of the gum tissue and removal of the plaque and deeper debris. As to the mouthwash question, it depends on the brand and sensitivity of the person. At Alpine Dental in N Barrington we can safely evaluate all the concerns regarding bad breath causes, mouthwashes and the real conditions you have concerns about. But a clean healthy mouth is your goal and ours!!
Have you ever talked to your dentist or GP about it? The bad breath can be caused also from digestive troubles or a special bacteria in the mouth which gives the bad smell. Saliva has the role to clean your mouth and mouth water with alcohol is going to make your mouth dry, also maybe not having much effect on that specific bacteria which needs it’s own medication. Don’t treat the symptoms, go to a dentist or general doctor for a complete diagnose and treatment for the root cause.
Mouthwash is unnecessary; just brush AND floss daily. See a dentist. You may have gum disease.
I have not seen or hear of this eroding the enamel. It may lead to dry mouth which can lead to accumulation of plaque and cavities at that time. I would limit use to 2-3 times per day maximum.
Hi,
Depending on what mouth rinse you use. It definitely should be alcohol-free.
Depending on what mouth rinse you use. It definitely should be alcohol-free.
No, mouthwash doesn’t damage or erode the enamel. You can also have your dentist to check the source of your bad breath and get the appropriate treatment for it.
Anything used in excess contrary to the instructions given will alter the delicate ph balances in the mouth, including the delicate tissues of the mouth and receptors on the tongue, not to mention hypersensitivity of the teeth. Follow the instructions recommended by your dentist for your particular case.
Morvarid Monfaredzadeh
Dentist
Using a mouthwash will not erode your teeth enamel, but you should find the reason for your bad breath. Mouthwash doesn’t remove the cause, just gives you the feeling that the problem is solved, but it really isn’t. Just get a dentist to check your teeth and find the reason for the bad breath and then you won’t even need to use a mouthwash.
The short answer is NO, but what you do is masking the problem. It is like using cologne without taking a shower, and doing this over and over. The bad breath is most likely caused by periodontal disease, tooth decay, or just plaque not regularly removed. In very rare cases, you might have an acid reflux problem in the absence of the above conditions.
You should be able to use an approved mouthwash you buy at a pharmacy daily without any issues.
Kerry Howard
Kerry Howard
No, mouthwash will not erode your enamel. Some mouthwashes have fluoride for cavity protection and can strengthen your enamel whereas some are just antiseptic for removing bacteria that cause bad breath. Adding mouthwash to your dental routine will not harm your enamel.
Mouthwash does not erode teeth.
Depends what type of "mouthwash" you're using. If you use any of the OTC mouthwash, they won't damage your enamel. I highly recommend Listerine. Any Listerine will be a fine choice.
