Choosing the right mouthwash for gingivitis
To cure gingivitis, one must be well informed about the different natural or medical treatments for gingivitis. These treatments are usually prescribed by your dentist or periodontist and these includes the use of mouthwash. However, there is a tremendous amount of mouthwashes available in the market. Choosing the right one might be tedious. There are different types of mouthwashes for treating gingivitis. These can be acquired through over the counter at a local grocery or pharmacy.
Antibacterial mouth rinses can be divided into two categories, recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) to be effective against plaque and gum disease. The first category covers all those that contain essential oils as an active ingredient. Essential oil mouthwashes are anti-bacterial which help eliminate and prevent gingivitis, gum recession and bad breath. These can be bought at any grocery store and in any sizes. The second category covers all mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine gluconate as an active agent. Chlorhexidine has much stronger antibacterial properties than the ingredients in over-the-counter brands and can stain teeth a dingy brown. That is why this specific mouthwash has been approved only as a prescription to ensure that a dentist monitors the staining on the teeth.
There are also those other types of mouthwashes for gingivitis that are available over-the-counter. There’s the prebrushing mouthwash that contains sodium benzoate, other non toxic wetting agent and 7.5% alcohol. This mouthwash is not meant for those on salt restricted diets. Another type is the Stannous fluoride mouthwash, which has more antiplaque properties than sodium fluoride, an ingredient commonly found in toothpastes. The drawback for this is that prolonged use of stannous fluoride mouthwash can result in a more staining of teeth than with a sodium fluoride control dentifrice.
Sanguinarine mouthwash is another type or mouthwash. It is an alcohol extract from the root of the plant Sanguinaria Canadensis. These are less effective than chlorhexidine but it can be retained for about 2 to 4 hours in the mouth and there are no side effects observed. Sanguinarine are available as over-the-counter mouthwash. Mouthwash that has oxygenating agents is another type used to release oxygen into the gum tissues and reduce inflammation. The use for this mouthwash is intended for short-term oral wound cleansing because it can cause serious side effects including cancer risk, tissue damage, ulcers in the mouth, abnormal increase in number of cells and black hairy tongue syndrome.
The best mouthwash used for gingivitis all comes down to the ingredients used. Reading the label before purchasing a mouthwash can be a great help. However, using a mouthwash alone can’t eliminate gingivitis. It can only help eliminate the harmful bacteria present in the mouth that causes the infection.
Tags: gingivitis, oral hygiene