The Best Mouthwash Is Also the Cheapest

There are routine questions you hear as a dentist. "Why do I have cavities?" "What am I doing wrong?" and "How much will it cost?" But the question I get most during a dental cleaning is this: "What is the best mouthwash?". It makes sense why. Breath control is usually one of patients' top concerns, according to my new patient surveys. After all, bad breath is social suicide. It is also the number one social signal that you aren't taking care of your teeth. So what is the answer? Patients often are surprised to hear that the best mouthwash is also the cheapest. And it isn't store-bought.

The best mouthwash is simply a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a glass of warm water. Gargled and swished around for thirty seconds, morning and night. Unlike colorful store-bought counterparts, this mouthwash is readily available using pantry ingredients. It is the cheapest option. And honestly, the best for your oral health.

Did you know...

Did you know that many mouthwashes on the market contain alcohol? Alcohol dries out the mouth. And dry mouth is not good! Known as xerostomia, it frequently leads to dental cavities! Without saliva washing away tooth surfaces and delivering protective factors to enamel, bad bacteria thrive in dry mouths.

In addition to alcohol, here is a list of non-active ingredients you may find in mouthwash:

Ingredients in Mouthwash Worth Noting:

• Solvents such as glycerin, sorbitol and propylene glycol

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) which is also found in toothpaste. It is responsible for foaming action but its harsh detergent properties can potentially strip moisture and cause ulcers or abrasion to soft mucosa in the mouth

• Preservatives such as parabens. Many holistic patients avoid parabens in shampoos, lotions, and makeup products because it mimics estrogen and there are concerns around hormone dysfunction that could result. Studies show that it is linked to reduced fertility, affects menstrual cycles and reduces testosterone levels as well. It is also debated whether it is linked to cancer.

• Colorings or Dyes.

• Essential oils such as menthol, eucalyptol or thymol has anti-septic properties that attack bacteria in plaque. However, it is not targeting bad bacteria specifically and affects the good bacteria in the mouth. This can cause an imbalance in the oral microbiome that is detrimental long-term. In today's age, awareness around a balanced gut microbiome and its health effects has increased. It is important to remember, that starts in the oral cavity, which is connected to the gut!

Benefits of Salt Water Rinses

• Salt water does not kill off bacteria like mouth wash does. However, it increases the mouth pH, which is crucial to oral health. Bad bacteria thrive in low pH, which are acidic environments. Good oral bacteria thrive in higher pH, that is more neutral environments. By increasing pH in the mouth, salt water rinses do not allow bad bacteria to thrive, thereby increasing the ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria in the mouth. This is much better than store-bought mouthwash which gets rid of good bacteria as well.

• Salt water sooths canker sores, sore throats, and gum irritation. This is the opposite effect of store-bought mouthwash.

• Even to this day, every oral surgeon I meet recommends rinsing with warm salt water after every procedure. It speeds recovery from minor cuts, burns and post-surgical sites by reducing inflammation. I still can hear my mom telling me ocean water is good for minor cuts in the skin, having been born on an island.

• Salt water fights bad breath by removing the bad bacteria and food debris.

Why do People Prefer Store-Bought Mouthwash?

I've thought about this a lot. I have shared this secret with patients and some do not convert. There are two appeals I can think of for the store-bought mouthwash. One is that it is pre-made, thereby reducing the friction associated with its use. The second reason is the taste or the way it makes them feel. Like toothpaste, companies have smartly realized that habit formation, and thereby habit consumption, is tied to a feeling. Astringency in store-bought mouthwash gives the "fresh" feeling and most people love the smell and feel of menthol. In my mind, this latter association between "mint" and "clean" that keep most patients on store-bought mouthwash.

All this is fine with me, but when I get asked the question "Which mouthwash is the best", the answer still remains,

The best mouthwash is also the cheapest.