Oral hygiene: should we be wary of mouthwashes?

in collaboration with

Dr Christophe Lequart (Oral health)

This is not the first time that the role, sometimes beneficial, sometimes harmful, of mouthwashes has been questioned. This time, the criticism comes from Dr. Kami Hoss, an American dentist, adviser to the UCLA school of dentistry at the University of California.

The expert warns “against mouthwashes which, by killing dangerous bacteria, also exterminate, without distinction, micro-organisms useful for maintaining healthy oral hygiene and the good health of our immune system and our heart”. In short, the bactericidal nature of mouthwash would make it a product to avoid.

What mouthwashes are we talking about?

For Dr. Christophe Lequart, dentist and spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD) and member of the Doctissimo expert committee, “it is first necessary to distinguish the medical mouthwash, on prescription, from the mouthwash for daily use, without a prescription”.

In the first case, the mouthwash is similar to a drug, generally given in the context of an infection, for example. “It is prescribed for a limited time, because it is then a highly antiseptic and detergent product which, if its use is prolonged, risks destabilizing the oral flora and having an opposite effect, by favoring the appearance of fungal infections”, indicates the spokesperson of the UFSBD.

In the other case, the mouthwash for daily use, pure or diluted in water, has a weak antiseptic effect, which is nonetheless useful, continues our interlocutor: “It allows to maintain a good balance of the oral flora, with nevertheless a small antiseptic effect on the bacteria responsible for cavities and gingival diseases, that is to say which affect the gums”. Both constitute the main part of oral pathologies.

A mouthwash preferably without alcohol at home

For daily use, however, it is better to favor an alcohol-free mouthwash, to prevent the risk of drying out the oral mucous membranes, which can promote bad breath problems.

Another risk is the occurrence of burning sensations which can be disabling and lead to difficulties in eating, swallowing and speaking.

Note also that mouthwashes that contain alcohol are not recommended for pregnant women and children. “In terms of mouthwashes, the current trend is to increasingly favor alcohol-free ranges, including to prevent possible risks of high blood pressure, since alcohol, via the blood vessels, will end up in the blood circulation”, observes Dr. Lequart.

Mouthwash as a complement, not instead of brushing

It goes without saying, underlines the specialist, that “mouthwash should in no way replace brushing your teeth, which remains the mainstay of good oral health, morning and evening, with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride, associated with cleaning teeth. interdental spaces, with dental floss or a brush”.

It is only once this treatment has been carried out that you can, in addition – Dr. Lequart insists on this term – use a mouthwash which will limit the adhesion of dental plaque to the teeth.

Finally, you should know that there are also specific mouthwashes, linked to particular pathologies or disorders. “There is, for example, the special dental hypersensitivity mouthwash, in addition to the ad hoc toothpaste, or the special dental erosion or even the mouthwash indicated for people who suffer from halitosis, in other words bad breath. , with a double action, on the bacteria responsible for halitosis and the malodorous components”, explains Dr. Christophe Lequart.