"Go wash your mouth out with soap", this expression dates back to the 19th century and well into the 20th century. It had to do with punishing those persons guilty of such things as profanity, lying, verbal disrespect or quarreling. The idea was that the taste and aftertaste of soap would serve as a deterrent to such actions.
Not sure how many households still hold to this way of punishment, but the American Dental Association and all those associated with prevention of caries (cavities) strongly urge the use of a mouthwash after brushing and flossing.
Your Rancho Cucamonga CA Dentist shares the two main types of mouthwashes or oral rinses:
Cosmetic Mouthwash
The cosmetic ‘nice tasting’ type are merely breath fresheners with little power to combat plaque and tooth decay. Antiseptic mouthwashes making claim to fighting bad breath as well as killing germs that bring plaque and the tooth decay are fine to use in conjunction with brushing, flossing and visiting dentist for the routine dental check-up twice a year.
Therapeutic Mouthwash
Mouthwashes should not be considered a replacement to the daily regimen of brushing and flossing, but a therapeutic mouthwash does help in the control and reduction of plaque, gingivitis, tooth decay and of course bad ‘morning breath. Dentists are also fine with brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste and then swishing that toothpaste in the mouth with plain water to rinse. It is the rinsing and ridding the mouth of the bacterial plaque that lies in hiding that matters.
This is a good time to also alleviate the concern that mouth rinses containing alcohol can be a cause for oral cancer. A recent study has found no conclusive evidence to oral cancer and alcohol-based mouthwashes. Alcohol mouthwashes can bring a drying of the mouth and dry mouth without the natural saliva that continually washes the mouth of bacteria can bring cavities to develop. This is the reason why your Rancho Cucamonga CA Dentist advocates alcohol-free mouthwashes. So, enough words, ‘Go wash your mouth with a good therapeutic mouthwash!