What types of mouthwashes can help to cure halitosis?
Mouthwashes, when used in conjunction with a regimen of effective tongue cleaning, tooth brushing, and flossing, can play a role in the treatment of bad breath (halitosis). You cannot, however, expect that a mouthwash will be an effective cure for bad breath on its own. The effectiveness of a particular mouthwash will be founded on its possessing one or both of the following characteristics:
- A) Antibacterial mouthwashes.
- If a mouthwash has the ability to kill bacteria it can play a part in helping to minimize the total number of anaerobic bacteria that are present in a person's mouth. Since these bacteria produce the volatile sulfur compounds which are the actual cause of bad breath, the fewer of them that are present the better.
- B) Mouthwash that neutralize volatile sulfur compounds.
- The ingredients found in some mouthwashes have the capability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds (VSC's) and/or the compounds from which they are formed. Since volatile sulfur compounds are the malodorous substances that actually cause bad breath, if a mouthwash can help to decrease the concentration of these compounds in a person's breath, then the more pleasant that person's breath will be.
Some of the different types of over-the-counter mouthwashes that have been employed in the treatment of bad breath are listed below. In an attempt to increase a particular product's effectiveness, some mouthwash formulations contain a combination of these agents.
A) Mouthwashes that contain chlorine dioxide or sodium chlorite.
[Antibacterial and Neutralizes Volatile Sulfur Compounds]
- Chlorine dioxide is an oxidizing agent (this means that it releases oxygen). Because most of the bacteria that cause bad breath are anaerobic (meaning, they prefer to live in environments devoid of oxygen), exposing them to an oxidizing agent can help to minimize their numbers.
- Chlorine dioxide has the ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds. It also has the ability to degrade the precursor components utilized by bacteria use when making VSC's. The net effect is that the overall concentration of volatile sulfur compounds found in a person's breath is reduced, and as a result their breath will be more pleasant.
B) Mouthwashes that contain zinc.
[Neutralizes Volatile Sulfur Compounds]
C) "Antiseptic" type mouthwashes.
[Antibacterial]
Some dentists feel that antiseptic type mouthwashes are not the best choice for treating bad breath. This criticism stems from the fact that these products can contain significant amounts of alcohol (often around 25%). Alcohol is a desiccant (a drying agent) and therefore can have the effect of drying out the tissues of the mouth. Our discussion about xerostomia explains how mouth dryness can aggravate a person's problems with bad breath.
D) Cetlyperadium chloride mouthwashes.
[Antibacterial]
Can breath mints, lozenges, drops, sprays, and chewing gum help to cure bad breath?
Just like with mouthwashes, breath mints, lozenges, drops, sprays, and chewing gum, on their own are usually not an effective means by which to cure bad breath. However, when these products are used in conjunction with diligent tongue cleaning and tooth brushing and flossing they can be valuable adjuncts Especially when they contain agents that have the ability to neutralize volatile sulfur compounds (such as chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorite, and zinc).
As an added benefit, the use of mints, lozenges, and chewing gum will stimulate the flow of saliva in a person's mouth. As discussed previously, saliva can have a cleansing and diluting effect on the bacteria and bacterial waste products that are found in a person's mouth, and therefore can help to minimize their breath odor problems.
How should a mouthwash be used so to get the most benefit from its antibacterial properties?
The bacteria that cause bad breath live on the surface and also deep within the layer of dental plaque that accumulates on and around a person's teeth, gums, and tongue. An antibacterial mouthwash will not have the ability to significantly penetrate into and through the plaque on its own. This means that the most effective use of a mouthwash will be after your brushing, flossing, and tongue cleaning efforts have removed, or at least disrupted, the dental plaque. Rinsing after you have cleaned allows the mouthwash to get at any of the free floating bacteria you have dislodged. It also allows the mouthwash to have an effect on those bacteria that, while not dislodged, have become exposed due to the disruption of their dental plaque colony.
When you rinse with a mouthwash it is best that you gargle it. As you gargle make an "aaahhh" sound. This will extend your tongue outward and allow the mouthwash to contact a greater portion of the posterior part of your tongue. The precise region where the largest accumulation of bad breath producing bacteria typically resides.
All mouth rinses should be spit out after gargling. Children should not be given mouthwash because of the possibility that they may swallow it.
How to clean dentures.
Your dentist should provide you with specific instructions regarding suitable methods for cleaning the dentures they have made for you. Since dental plaque will form on your dentures just like it does on teeth, gums, and tongues, usually a dentist's recommendations will include instructions about thoroughly scrubbing your dentures with a toothbrush or specialized denture brush, both inside and out. After scrubbing your dentures you might place them in whichever antiseptic denture soak your dentist suggests.
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