Most adults use mouthwash as a part of their oral health, and you probably do, too. Have you ever thought about introducing your kids to mouthwash, though? Is it even necessary? As parents, it is always smart to encourage your children to take better care of their teeth.
While flossing and brushing are still considered the best methods to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, children might want to add mouthwash to their daily routine, as well. In fact, a lot of teenagers may find themselves particularly interested in this method to keep their breath smelling fresh. Here are the things you might want to consider if you are thinking about introducing your children to mouthwash.
For teenagers
If your children wear braces, mouthwash happens to be a great product to help protect their teeth from bacteria that causes gum disease and tooth decay. Since it can be hard to properly clean teeth with dental floss and a toothbrush when one wears braces, mouthwash can help get rid of built-up plaque in certain areas of the mouth, like around the wires and brackets, that toothbrushes have trouble getting into.
By adding an extra product to fight against plaque; teenagers who floss, brush, and rinse their mouths with mouthwash can protect their teeth better from the effects of tooth decay while having to wear braces. This will help ensure that they end up with not just straighter teeth, but also much stronger teeth, at the end of their braces journey.
For younger children
As great as it is for teenagers to simply add mouthwash to their oral health arsenal, though, it would not be advisable for younger children to use it without your direct supervision.
Children aged 6 to 12 years old should only use mouthwash in their parents’ or guardians’ presence to ensure that they use the product correctly. Children under 6 years old should not use it unless recommended by their dentist. One thing to gauge here is whether your child is actually able to swish the mouthwash in their mouth and spit it out afterwards. Conversely, you may also dip a toothbrush into the mouthwash and brush it onto their teeth from there.
It should also be noted that too much fluoride exposure over long periods of time may cause fluorosis in younger children, a condition that may damage the teeth and make them appear streaked or spotted. As such, instead of introducing younger children to mouthwash, you might want to teach them how to floss and brush better instead.
When to use mouthwash
Regardless of which kind of mouthwash you introduce your children, make sure you remind them that mouthwash should never completely replace flossing and brushing. Mouthwash serves as excellent extra protection against plaque. Still, it cannot replace the importance of flossing and brushing when it comes to maintaining strong and healthy teeth and gums.
Mouthwash is known to be the most effective at night. It should be the last thing done before going to bed and should not be rinsed with water. Midnight snacks should, therefore, be avoided, as well. In some cases, dentists might prescribe a medicated mouthwash to prevent or treat certain dental problems.
Listerine® Introduces Limited Edition Botanically Inspired Flavours
If you are worried about the alcohol content found in mouthwash, you can consider alcohol-free brands that are just as effective at killing bacteria and freshening one’s breath. One non-alcoholic brand you might want to consider is Listerine.
Their new limited edition flavours – Sakura & Peach and Coconut & Lime – are botanically-inspired flavour blends that can reduce the accumulation of bacteria after brushing. Since they do not contain any alcohol whatsoever, the taste is less intense, as well, allowing both children and adults to enjoy their rich flavours for complete cleansing.
