What is a dental mouthwash? As the name suggests, it is a liquid chemical solution that can be used to wash or rinse the mouth either as part of an oral hygiene regimen that also consists of toothpaste and floss, or as a simple rinse after meals or at any particular time of the day. Dental mouthwashes are not something that were invented recently by dentists or scientists; the use of special solutions to rinse the mouth has been recorded as far back as 2700 BC. This practice of rinsing the mouth with herbal or chemical solutions finds mention in ancient Chinese medical journals and also the very old ayurvedic texts of India. Much later, the Greeks and Romans caught on, and there is also a reference to Hippocrates suggesting the use of a combination of alum, vinegar, and salt as a mouth rinsing formula.
In modern times, dental mouthwashes are produced commercially and can contain one or a combination of active chemical ingredients that can not only protect teeth and gums, but can also improve the overall aesthetic appearance of teeth with their bleaching properties. Generally, a mouthwash is used twice a day after brushing the teeth. However, there are people who prefer to rinse their mouths with some mouthwash after every meal. Dental mouthwashes are useful in that they can be swirled around inside the mouth, helping the chemical compounds present in the mouthwash to reach the hidden and most inaccessible places in the mouth. The simplicity of a mouth wash is what attracts people to use a mouth wash as part of their daily routine.
Dental mouthwashes can be very effective against many forms of dental diseases such as gingivitis, caries, and also bad breath. Simple home dental mouthwashes can be anything from a simple rinse with a salt solution or a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash that is almost as simple to get and easy to use. There are so many commercial brands of dental mouthwash available in the market, but none can match the simplicity of a hydrogen peroxide mouthwash or the sweetness of a xylitol mouthwash.