What mouthwash is recommended for bad breath?
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American Dental Association answered:Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may recommend using a special antimicrobial mouth rinse. A fluoride mouth rinse, used along with brushing and flossing, can help prevent tooth decay.Mouthwashes are generally cosmetic and do not have a long-lasting effect on bad breath. If you must constantly use a breath freshener to hide unpleasant mouth odor, see your dentist. If you need extra help in controlling plaque, your dentist may... More -
Dr. De Vizio of Colgate answered:Mouthwash only temporarily masks bad breath and is not the best solution to solving the underlying problem. If you have persistent bad breath it's a good idea to see your dentist, who can first help you determine the cause and then design a treatment plan. If the problem is due to excess plaque on your teeth, your dentist can also recommend a special antimicrobial mouth rinse.
Mouthwash only temporarily masks bad breath and is not the best solution to solving the underlying problem. If you have persistent bad breath it's a good idea to see your dentist, who can first help you determine the cause and then design a... More -
Dr. Todd Welch answered:Did you know that as many as half of all Americans say that they suffer from bad breath?Many people have turned to mouthwash to try to curb their oral odor, but does mouthwash really help fight bad breath? If so, which one is the best?
Many mouthwashes used to provide a strong, pleasant aroma to cover up bad breath. As time passed, mouthwash manufacturers began adding certain ingredients to their mouthwashes to help fight bad breath.
Today, there are many varieties of mouthwash available. Although most of them have flavors that would appear to freshen your breath, only mouthwashes that contain certain ingredients are able to help fight bad breath.
Researchers wanted to find out whether or not mouthwashes actually helped fight bad breath. The following quote is from a systematic review that combined the results of five different studies to determine the following:
"This review, which included five trials (293 participants), found that there is some evidence that mouth rinses containing antibacterial agents such as chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride or those containing chlorine dioxide and zinc can to some extent reduce the unpleasant odor but the use of mouth rinses containing chlorhexidine resulted in noticeable but temporary staining of the tongue and teeth."
As long as the mouthwash contains an antibacterial agent such as chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) or zinc and/or chlorine dioxide, it may be able to fight bad breath.
Did you know that as many as half of all Americans say that they suffer from bad breath? Many people have turned to mouthwash to try to curb their oral odor, but does mouthwash really help fight bad breath? If so, which one is the best? Many... More
