Mouth Rinses

Mouth rinses can be a good addition to brushing and flossing. Some provide benefits that go beyond freshening your breath.

What to look for

Rinses can be therapeutic depending on the ingredients:

• Oxygenating agents cleanse the mouth.
• Astringents agents shrink tissues when they are inflamed.
• Anodyne ingredients reduce oral pain.
• Buffering agents reduce acidity in the mouth.
• Deodorizers neutralize odors in the mouth.
• Antimicrobial agents kill or reduce bacteria in the mouth.
• Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.

Many commercial mouth rinses contain alcohol which can dry out tissues. Non-alcoholic rinses are available.

Alternatives to Commercial Mouth Rinses

1. A one-to-one mixture of hydrogen peroxide and saline or water.
2. Club soda.
3. A mixture of ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon baking soda in one cup of water.

Content supplied by the Brushing Up on Mouth Care Program http://www.ahprc.dal.ca/projects/oral-care/