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Applecross Dentist Post: Study Finds Mouthwash is Key to Optimal Oral Health

Thought mouthwash was a waste of time? Not according to this study?

A study involving 139 people over a period of six months were placed into two different groups: Those that brushed their teeth and used antibacterial mouthwash twice daily, and those who brushed twice daily and rinsed with water. By doing this researchers found that using mouthwash in addition to brushing is the most effective way of removing plaque from the teeth. It is important, however, that rinsing with mouthwash should NOT replace brushing, and rinsing should be conducted after brushing is finished.

This method of maintaining oral health has been found to be effective as it reaches all corners and crevices of the mouth, which would otherwise remain untouched. The researchers stated that since the teeth account for only 25% of the mouth, brushing on its own cannot possibly remove all the bacteria in the mouth.

Preventive dentistry with Dr Chong?

At Image Dental in Applecross we are dedicated to ensuring your total oral health, and can only achieve this if you maintain a good oral health routine at home! We will do whatever we can to save your smile from tooth decay, periodontal disease and other preventable issues, but whatever we achieve in the chair will mean nothing if you do not sustain a high quality oral health regime at home!

The Image Dental formula?

We recommend our patients visit our dental practice every six months. By regularly visiting the dentist, you can help ensure that little problems in your teeth are addressed before they become major dental issues. In fact, we believe that by the age of 77, 99% of our patients should have at least 22 natural teeth.

Along with visiting our dental practice every six months so we can assess, diagnose and treat any present oral health issues, it is important you also brush, floss and now use anti-bacterial mouthwash. However, when using mouthwash we at Image Dental advise you use ?alcohol-free? mouthwash as others that contain alcohol can actually make any bad breath worse!

A healthy smile means a healthy body?

Many studies have found a distinct connection between the health of the mouth and the health of the body, which only solidifies our stand on maintaining optimal oral health. If you neglect your smile, you could be doing more to yourself than you realise! Poor oral health has been linked to other disease in the body such as:

  • Diabetes
  • Alzheimer?s
  • Dementia
  • Stroke
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Respiratory issues
  • Cancer

With all these issues exacerbated and sometimes even caused by bacteria associated with periodontal disease, why would you even risk it? Maintain a good oral health routine at home to keep your mouth and your body healthy!

If you are having trouble maintaining your oral health, visit us at Image Dental so we can assess and treat any conditions that you may have.

To discover more about our preventive dentistry treatments or to book an appointment at our Applecross dental practice, please do not hesitate to contact us.