Using mouthwash is not a substitute for brushing your teeth
Further reading
With the deepening of people's attention to dental health, mouthwash is accepted by more and more people.
There are many mouthwashes on the market under the banner of "brushing mouthwash" and "medical mouthwash", and even claiming that it can replace brushing.
In this regard, Liu Dawei, the attending physician of Tianjin Debeier, said that there is no mouthwash that can replace brushing.
By rinsing, part of the food residue in the mouth can be washed away, but the soft scale and plaque attached to the tooth surface and the food residue hidden in the teeth cannot be removed.
"The correct way to brush your teeth is to use a toothbrush and floss. The toothbrush can remove 60% of the soft scale on the surface of the teeth and the pits and fissures. The remaining 40% of the soft scale needs to be removed by flossing." Liu Dawei said.
At present, there is also a popular water flosser on the market, also known as a tooth irrigator, which can be used together with daily brushing.
"The main function of the water flosser is to use the high-pressure water column to scour the places where the toothbrush is difficult to clean, such as between the teeth, and then remove the dirt and plaque hidden in these places." Liu Dawei said.
Dental floss takes away dirt and plaque through physical friction. Water flossing has no effect on closely spaced teeth.
The expanded floss is soft and will spread out in the presence of water, and has a strong cleaning effect.
Water flossing is more suitable for people with large gaps between teeth, but it is not a substitute for flossing, and flossing will clean the gaps more thoroughly.
Liu Dawei reminded that the most effective way to clean teeth is brushing, its "dominant" status cannot be shaken, and other cleaning methods cannot replace brushing.
For those in need, you can choose a suitable mouthwash under the advice of your doctor.
Some medicated mouthwashes should not be used for a long time, because long-term use may lead to imbalance of the flora in the mouth, destroy the natural defense ability of the mouth, and the possibility of tooth staining.