oral hygiene

The 5 Best Mouthwashes

Andrea Cannon — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 10:00:04 +0000

Your dentist has been right all along; you really do need mouthwash for a fresher mouth. Regardless of what your dental concerns may be, mouthwash is recommended for all adults and children six years of age and older. If you want to spend less time in the dentist’s chair, then you’ll want a good mouthwash on your side. That’s why we’ve found some of the best mouthwashes to use twice daily, along with your normal brushing and flossing routine.

What is mouthwash?

Mouthwash is a liquid that can be swished around in the mouth to improve the health of the teeth, gums, and tongue. Mouthwash can do more than just freshen your breath; it can actually help fight plaque and gingivitis, prevent cavities, tartar, and periodontal disease, treat halitosis, soothe minor irritations in the mouth, and even whiten your teeth. With continued use, it can even help fight oral cancer and leave you with a healthier mouth.

Top 5 mouthwashes

TheraBreath Dentist Recommended Fresh Breath Oral Rinse

If you find that mouthwash stings your tongue, then TheraBreath Dentist Recommended Fresh Breath Oral Rinse is perfect for you. The clinically proven oral rinse uses the oxygenating power of OXYD-8 to instantly fight the bacteria that causes bad breath for 24 hours. It neutralizes sulfur-producing bacteria to help freshen the breath, stop dry mouth, and prevent morning breath. The long-lasting oral rinse has no artificial colors, flavors, or alcohol, so it will leave you with fresh breath, without leaving a stinging sensation behind. It is PH-balanced to reduce acid erosion and tooth sensitivity. It can also help treat halitosis and dry mouth.

The dentist-approved mouthwash has been recommended for over 20 years and is certified vegan, gluten-free, and kosher. This two-pack mouthwash is ideal for most people, including diabetics. It is commonly prescribed for patients with severe bad breath because it can instantly eliminate bad breath and what causes it. As Amazon’s #1 best seller in mouthwashes, the popular mouthwash is one America's best-selling specialty oral rinses, has millions of faithful users, and has more than 4,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Currently $15.34 on Amazon

Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash

Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash is the #1 dentist-recommended brand and the most widely used and extensively researched mouthwash in the country. The triple-action formula can kill germs, freshen your breath, and leave your mouth cleaner and fresher. The affordable mouthwash is clinically proven to help reduce and prevent plaque and gingivitis for up to 12 hours. It uses a formula of four essential oils (eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate, and thymol) to instantly kill millions of germs on contact. Rather than just covering up bad breath, it kills the bacteria that caused it in the first place. With continued use, it can also help prevent gum disease.

The antiseptic mouthwash received the ADA Seal of Acceptance. With more than 100 years of usage and 50 years of research, it was selected as one of the best mouthwashes by Real Simple and Dental Care Matters. If this intense flavor isn’t right for you, Listerine offers a number of mouthwashes in different flavors and formulas.

Currently $13.99 on Amazon

Biotene Oral Rinse for Dry Mouth Symptoms

If you have dry mouth, you’ll want to try Biotene Oral Rinse for Dry Mouth Symptoms. The soothing mouthwash uses the LP3 salivary enzyme-protein system to help prevent tooth decay and oral disease, soothe minor irritation, fight bad breath, and refresh and moisturize your mouth throughout the day. It is alcohol-free, so it will freshen your breath without leaving a stinging sensation behind.

Biotene is the #1 dentist and hygienist recommended brand for dry mouth symptoms because it offers immediate, long-lasting relief. It was also selected as one of the best mouthwashes by Men’s Health and Dental Care Matters.

Currently $8.73 on Amazon

ACT Restoring Mouthwash

ACT Restoring Mouthwash can prevent tooth decay, strengthen enamel, remineralize soft spots, and freshen your breath. The anti-cavity fluoride mouthwash can also help prevent cavities and soothe sore gums, so your mouth will feel healthier after every use.

The dentist-approved mouthwash was selected as one of the best mouthwashes on the market by Men’s Health and Dental Care Matters. It is ideal for anyone, even people with sensitive teeth and gums. ACT is the #1 dentist recommended fluoride brand, so if the Mint Burst flavor isn’t your favorite, there are a variety of other flavors and formulas available that may be right for you.

Currently $4.36 on Amazon

SmartMouth Mouthwash

SmartMouth Mouthwash is completely unique. It comes with two bottles, which each contain a different active ingredient. Just before using it, you mix the two formulas together, which will maximize the release of zinc ions.

The dentist-developed mouthwash promises 12-hour fresh breath, so you can count on it to fight both common and chronic bad breath all day. If you gargle the mouthwash at night, it promises to leave you with fresh breath in the morning. The dentist-approved mouthwash uses a patented Smart-Zinc technology, which is safe for diabetics. It is alcohol-free, so it will freshen your breath without leaving a stinging sensation behind and won’t stain your teeth, fillings, or dentures.

Currently $18.99 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best mouthwashes. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ouch! 5 Ways to Make Paying for the Dentist Less Painful

Mikey Rox — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 21:00:40 +0000

A trip to the dentist might not hurt your pocket if you have dental insurance. All you have to do is flash your insurance card, cover your co-pay, and be on your merry way. But without dental insurance, a routine visit might be more than you bargained for. Not only is there the agony of dealing with all that noisy scraping, sucking, and drilling, but you can get hit with a hefty fee for services.

There isn't much you can do to make the actual appointment more enjoyable, but there are ways to ease the financial pain of paying for a dental visit. Take a look at these five tips on how to make paying the best part of your dental appointment.

1. Save Big With a Dental Discount Plan

If dental insurance isn't offered through your employer and you can't afford monthly premiums on your own, purchase a discount dental plan.

These plans vary depending on the plan provider, but are significantly cheaper than dental insurance. For example, the Careington Care 500 Series discount dental plan costs about $159 a year for a family plan, and offers discounts of 20% to 60% for most dental procedures. Instead of paying a usual fee of $57 for a routine six-month checkup, the discounted fee for plan members is $15 — a savings of 74%. The plan also covers other dental procedures, such as X-rays, fillings, crowns, root canals, tooth replacements, and tooth removals, as well as cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics care for adults and children.

If you're interested in these discount dental plans, DentalPlans can help you find the perfect plan for your needs and budget. The site allows users to search, compare, and select from more than 30 discount dental plans that offer savings of 10% to 60% off most dental procedures.

2. Don't Skip Regular Examinations

Going to the dentist might not be the highlight of your day, but skipping regular examinations could end up costing you more in the long run.

Regular six-month examinations are crucial for good oral hygiene. Your dentist can identify dental problems early and treat a small issue before it worsens and becomes an expensive one. If you have a small cavity, your dentist might be able to fill the cavity at a small expense. On the other hand, if you ignore a cavity and the decay worsens, fixing the tooth might require more than a conventional filling, and you might need a dental crown. The more extensive a dental procedure, the more you'll pay out-of-pocket.

Make sure you visit the dentist at least twice a year for a professional cleaning. And if you experience toothaches, bleeding gums, or other oral problems, let your dentist know sooner rather than later.

3. Negotiate a Cash Discount

If you don't have a dental discount plan or insurance, speak with your dentist's office in advance to see if you can get a discount for paying cash. Some dentists prefer cash payments directly from patients because they don't have to deal with insurance claims. Never underestimate the power of negotiation. If the dentist knows you don't have insurance, he might surprise you and knock money off your bill.

"Many dentists will offer around 5% off if you pay cash up front," says Dr. Lawrence Wallace, CEO of Larell Surgical Consultants, a California company that evaluates claims for insurers.

Also, it doesn't hurt to ask dentists to charge you the same rate they charge insurance companies, which is usually 10% to 15% off a regular office visit or procedure. This may not work out, but it's worth a shot.

4. Go to a Dental School

Before a dental student can graduate and start working in a dental office, she needs to practice on real people. This is where you come in. Going to a dental school for routine dental procedures, such as cleanings, fillings, and root canals can result is a cheaper dental bill. To give you an idea of the potential savings, the Indiana University School of Dentistry charges "about half what a dentist might charge for preventative care like a cleaning."

The thought of a student working on your mouth might sound scary. However, these students only perform services on patients as they near graduation, and always under the supervision of an instructor. You can check the American Dental Association's website for a list of accredited dental schools in your area. Personally, I went to a dental school to have my wisdom teeth removed after college when I didn't have insurance. Everything went according to plan, and they got me sufficiently high on gas before the procedure. All things considered, that was the best part of my day.

5. Barter for Free or Cheap Dental Care

If you don't have a lot of cash to pay for dental care, consider bartering for discounted or free services. Maybe you have a skill that can benefit the dentist, such as web design, office cleaning, or marketing skills. Contact the office manager and leave a message for the dentist asking to trade services in exchange for dental care.

Do you have other ideas on how to save money on dental appointments? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Defensive Dentistry: How to Avoid Expensive Dental Problems

Kentin Waits — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:24:42 +0000

It seems like the first thing to go in a tight economy is dental and vision benefits. Either employers cut back or employees want to reduce all but the most essential paycheck deductions. Add root canal horror stories and the near-universal anxiety that comes with visit to the dentist, and it’s clear to see that we could all use some tips on defensive dentistry. (See also: Open Wide: 5 Ways to Score Discount Dental Care)

If you’d like stay out of dentist’s chair (except for regular check-ups, of course), here are a few dental hygiene habits to brush up on.

Brush

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that we brush our teeth at least twice a day and that one of those times should before bed. Thorough brushing removes plaque and that helps avoid two things everyone can do without — cavities and gum disease. Though it’s usually a good idea to brush after every meal, avoid it if you’ve been eating or drinking anything acidic. Acid weakens the tooth enamel and brushing within 30 minutes of consuming an acidic food or beverage risks damage to the tooth’s enamel. For a quick refresher on good brushing technique, check out the ADA's brushing guidelines (PDF).

Oh, and while we’re on the subject, don’t forget to make brushing your tongue as part of your routine too. Brushing the tongue, especially before bed, helps cut down on the amount of bacteria that’s at work in your mouth during those long hours of sleep.

Floss

In the world of dentistry, there’s a difference of opinion about rinsing with a good oral mouth rinse and flossing. Some studies show that rinsing is as equally effective as flossing; other studies refute it. But when it comes to dental health, it’s always good to err on the side of caution. Floss at least once each day to remove the finer food particles that can lodge between teeth and lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash reduces the bacteria that may irritate gums during brushing and flossing. And adding a fluoride rinse as the final step in your routine helps strengthen and protect the teeth. The ADA has a quick flossing guide (PDF) too.

Rinse

An antibacterial mouthwash is an essential part of a proactive dental routine. Whether you decide to use a pre-rinse, a post-rinse, or both, mouthwash helps keep your breath fresh, your teeth plaque-free, and your gums healthy.

Reduce Stress

Stress can really do a number on oral health. Besides generally weakening our immune systems, stress usually goes hand-in-hand with bad eating habits and inconsistent dental routines. Unaddressed stress and anxiety can also cause teeth clenching or nighttime teeth grinding, which may eventually weaken enamel or produce tooth fractures. Explore ways to reduce and manage stress through exercise, meditation, or broader lifestyle changes.

Eat Right

As with any health issue, diet plays a major role in maintaining good dental health. A well-balanced diet that’s low in sugar can help prevent the bacterial buildup that’s responsible for plaque and tooth decay. Also, to protect tooth enamel, limit or avoid acidic foods and beverages like citrus fruits, soda, and canned sweet teas.

Be More Aware

Knowing the early warning signs of dental problems can help minimize long-term damage, prevent the need for drastic corrective procedures, and keep your dental costs down. Watch for red flags like receding, inflamed, or bleeding gums (a sign of potential gum disease), tooth pain, or pain while chewing (a sign of potential cavities or an abscessed tooth). Signs of chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, oral cancer, and HIV can also first manifest in our mouths. If you have any oral or dental condition that’s unusual, unexplained, or lasting, see your doctor.

Defensive dentistry isn’t about trying to avoid the dentist at all costs. Nothing can or should replace regular check-ups and cleanings. Instead, a bit of dental defense now can help keep your appointments routine and prevent the surprises that stress our budgets and tax our nerves later. That’s a pretty good payoff for a few small investments of toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and time.

What does defensive dentistry mean to you? How has establishing a healthier routine helped you stay out of the dentist’s chair?

This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Avoid Big Dental Bills with Safe and Inexpensive Products

Catherine Shaffer — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:01:45 +0000

Dental care is one of those big expenses that hits us in the pocketbook when we least expect it. Most people pay at least some of their dental bills out-of-pocket. Some people go in for a routine cleaning and come out with a schedule of appointments for thousands of dollars worth of restorative work. Traditional dentistry focuses on repairing the damage done by plaque-causing bacteria, but does little to address the underlying cause of decay and gum disease. A new trend called minimally invasive dentistry views these bacteria not as normal and unavoidable body flora, but as an aggressive bacterial infection that can be eliminated using a rational cleaning regimen.

Ellie Phillips is a Rochester, New York dentist and author of the dental advice blog Ask Dr. Ellie. In her blog (and in a forthcoming book), Dr. Ellie describes how she first became interested in minimally invasive dentistry (as it's now called). Her husband owned a restaurant, and the restaurant employees could not afford dental care. Out of a desire to provide some kind of inexpensive tools for preventive dental care, they installed a candy dispenser at the restaurant that contained xylitol candies. Xylitol is a natural sugar derived from birch trees. (If that sounds strange, think about how much maple syrup you've consumed. Same thing, except birch.)

It turns out that the bad bacteria attempt to metabolize xylitol, but get “stuck” in mid-process and starve to death. Xylitol is, in effect, a mild, selective antibiotic that eliminates plaque-forming bacteria and encourages the growth of harmless probiotic strains (which we all need for good health). The bad bacteria form clumps and strings on teeth. This is what the dentist scrapes off at those biannual cleanings. The good bacteria form an invisible slippery film on the teeth.

What Dr. Ellie found was that when the employees started eating a hand full of xylitol mints each day, their teeth and gums became naturally healthier. (The scientific literature backs up her observations.) Given time, and freedom from harmful bacteria, says Dr. Ellie, your body can even repair small cavities. This is called remineralization.

Since that time, Dr. Ellie has developed an oral hygiene system that encourages good bacteria and eliminates bad bacteria. The system (“Clean White Teeth”) involves eating a minimum dose of xylitol each day, brushing with a scrupulously clean toothbrush, and using four specific products : Closys rinse, Listerine, ACT fluoride rinse, and plain Crest toothpaste. She has many testimonials from happy patients and blog readers whose dental problems have been completely reversed by this regimen. Dr. Ellie is very clear that she does not receive any payment from Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, or any other corporation for endorsing these products.

The xylitol candies and all of the mouth rinses are not cheap. They cost more than the average person's oral hygeine routine. However, they are much cheaper than root canals, gingival surgery, and tooth implants.

In fact, I decided to try this system myself. First I have to give you some background. I never had a cavity in my life, but as of about three years ago, I did have some gingivitis, with a few periodontal pockets that my dentist was watching. We had many conversations about flossing. The problem: I was flossing regularly and doing everything recommended by the dentist, but my gums were not improving. My dentist, whom I do like very much, didn't have any new recommendations to offer, except to continue flossing.

Some time later, I decided to begin taking fish oil supplements, because I had been impressed by new research showing the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for your overall health. Within about a month, I noticed my gums were a strange color. They were light pink! This is the color of healthy gums. Sure enough, when I went to the dentist, they couldn't get over what an improvement there had been in my gums. So that's my personal recommendation. The science on this is somewhat fuzzy (omega-3's are known to be beneficial for cardiovascular health, and cardio and gingival health have been shown to be linked). It's worth a try.

So when I started using Dr. Ellie's system, I already had pretty good teeth and gums. But like most everyone, I would have some sensitivity and bleeding during cleanings, and the hygienist spent some time scraping tartar. I usually got a lecture about flossing more.

I was eager to see if there would be any difference after I started the system. To my surprise, the hygienist found almost no tartar to scrape, and my gums had zero bleeding, except in one place where I had suffered bone loss from previous decades of simmering gingivitis. Again, they were very happy and impressed with my progress. I believe my largest periodontal pocket even measured a millimeter smaller.

So that's my personal testimonial. I am very happy to share this resource with Wise Bread readers. I would encourage you to go read through the Dr. Ellie blog archives. It's well worth the investment of time. She gives advice for many situations, including young children, cancer patients, and more. Medical science is just beginning to really explore the impact that microflora has on human health. So much is unknown. But after more than thirty years of being blamed for my own poor oral health, I am very happy to know that I just had an infection and was able to cure it naturally.

This article is from Catherine Shaffer of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: