Keeping your teeth and gums clean is vital to your health. Even though it may seem like an annoying chore, proper dental hygiene actually helps you avoid horrible issues such as gum disease and even some cancers. But when there are so many products available, it’s hard to know what to do. If you’re currently trying to decide between mouthwash versus toothpicks, the information below can help you out.
Mouthwash Versus Toothpicks: Meet the Competitors
Mouthwash
– Usually a minty flavored liquid you swish around your mouth once or twice a day to freshen breath and clean your teeth.
– Although not all of them are, most mouthwashes are alcohol-based.
– Mouthwash leaves behind a tingling sensation, which makes you feel like your mouth is extra clean.
– Commercials and advertising for mouthwash boast that it can get in between your teeth where your toothbrush cannot get and clean out any plaque build-up or residue.
– Contrary to the ideas perpetuated by advertising, mouthwash does not clean off the build-up between your teeth. It can only soften it. Plaque and tartar hold on tight to your teeth once they have formed. This build-up requires more than just a few swishes to knock it off.
Toothpicks
– These are small pieces of wood or plastic with a pointed end that people use to pick out food stuck between their teeth.
– You need to be gentle with toothpicks. Since the pointed ends are a lot bigger than anything else you usually stick between our teeth, they can really hurt your gums.
– Toothpicks are very effective at getting bigger chunks of food particles out of your teeth after eating, but don’t really knock out the smaller pieces or build-up very well.
– Toothpicks don’t immediately freshen your breath.
So, Who Wins?
Both! These two products are used for different things, so you don’t really need to decide between mouthwash versus toothpicks. You can use some mouth wash in the morning, before bed, or when you feel you need a breath-freshening pick-me-up. You can also use a toothpick after a meal when you can feel leftovers lodged between your teeth.
Neither of these replace brushing and flossing, either. Whether you use mouthwash, toothpicks, both, or neither, you need to brush your teeth and floss at least twice per day. Dentists say this is the only way to make sure you’re getting rid of harmful build-up and avoiding gum disease and gingivitis.
Consult A Dentist
When you are in search for a dentist, try using TalkLocal. We let you specify what types of service you require and match you up with professionals that can help.
