Mouthwash products are liquid solutions used as an add-on to the usual oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing. Generally, it is used to encourage people to do mouthrinse for fresh breath. This is because mouthwashes prevent the formation of plaque and cure certain oral conditions such as bad breath and gum infection.

Mouthwashes are either medicated or non-medicated.

The non-medicated types are those that can be purchased over-the-counter. This can be used regularly for mouthrinse for fresh breath. It can also be used for the prevention of dental and oral diseases and maintenance of overall oral health. These types of mouthwashes are made of essential oils like Eugenol, Phenol and Thymol.

Medicated mouthwashes are typically prescribed and recommended by dentists for particular conditions such as ulcers or gum infection and surgery. It contains Chlorhexidine gluconate which has a pronounced antibacterial property. This substance stops the plaque and calculus formation, thus contributing to the over all maintenance of oral health. This is also especially prescribed to individuals who have a greater tendency in developing plaque. This type of mouthwash is used only for a short time. Prolonged use of medicated mouthwash might result to several adverse side effects.

Other types of mouthwashes available in the market contain substances such as Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Sanguinarine, Stannous Fluoride, Sodium Benzoate, etc. These types may be categorized as either non-medicated or medicated. One very popular brand used throughout the USA is Biotene mouthwash which is commonly recommended for people with dry mouth.

Many people continuously use mouthwash to do regular mouthrinse for fresh breath and to cure mild cases of halitosis. Resorting only to mouthwashes to eliminate bad breath promises minimal positive result as it cannot fully cure the underlying cause of bad breaths. The best way to get rid of bad breath is to consult a dental or oral professional and to ask if there is a need for you to undergo a specific type of treatment. Although there are some products that are helpful in eliminating bad breath such as Oxyfresh mouthrinse it is still advisable to see an oral professional if problems continue to persist.

As a whole, tooth brushing is important and its use can never be substituted by only mouthwash. Physical plaque prevention and control is still the most significant weapon against dental diseases.