Many people use mouthwash as part of their oral hygiene routine. It makes the mouth tingle and feel fresh, but does using mouthwash really help to care for your teeth?
Mouthwash is a liquid solution that you can swish around in your mouth or gargle in order to cover the teeth, gums, and tongue. It is then spit out, not swallowed. Most people prefer to use mouthwash after they brush their teeth.

Mouthwash has a number of different uses. Some are useful in temporarily masking bad breath and rinsing the mouth of certain types of bacteria. Others have more helpful purposes and actually coat the teeth with fluoride to help strengthen them as well as prevent tooth decay.

The ingredients in mouthwash vary. Some of these include:
    Antimicrobials such as cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, sanguinarine, and phenolic compounds. These ingredients work to reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth.
    Deodorizing and oxidizing agents like sodium bicarbonate and chlorine dioxide, , which help to hide and neutralize bad odors in the mouth.
    Oxygenating agents, such as hydrogen peroxide), help to kill anaerobic germs (those that live without oxygen) by adding oxygen to the area.
    Fluoride. This ingredient is effective for strengthening teeth and preventing tooth decay.
    Pain-relieving agents. Some mouthwashes, specifically those formulated for sensitive teeth or those prescribed by dentists, provide pain relief.
    Buffering agents. These ingredients may relieve soft-tissue pain, reduce acidity and dissolve build-up of film on the lining of the mouth.
    Anti-tartar (e.g., zinc citrate) agents. These ingredients work to reduce tartar build-up in the mouth, which is hardened plaque that can only be removed by a dentist.
Mouthwashes also contain a good amount of water and alcohol, which add flavor or color. Most of the mouthwashes you'll find in the drug store use alcohol as the main ingredient.

Mouthwash is intended to be a supplement, not replacement, for oral hygiene. When used along with brushing and flossing, it can be beneficial to the overall health of your mouth, teeth, and gums. The most effective mouthwashes are those that are actually prescribed by your dentist.

Companies who manufacture mouthwashes you can buy in the drugstore sometimes claim that they are an effective way to clean teeth and kill bacteria, but dentists give conflicting reviews. These mouthwashes may kill bacteria, but it's usually only very temporary. As a general rule, over the counter mouthwashes are useful primarily for disguising bad breath, rinsing debris left over in the mouth from food, and giving the mouth a refreshing, tingling feel. The mouthwashes that have real dental benefits are those that are prescribed by the dentist.

Mouthwash can have a number of benefits to it, but as far as helping to really clean the teeth, brushing and flossing are the best for that. When trying to decide which over-the-counter mouthwash to use, look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. This indicates a product is safe and endorsed by a panel of experts.

It's always there, lurking around the corners, threatening to appear the moment you turn your back on it.  It's a disease.  It's unpleasant.  It can have lasting affects.  What is it, you wonder?   GUM DISEASE.  Those two small words strike fear into the heart of any tooth and gum; dentists quiver and hygienists squirm.  But luckily for you, gum disease is very preventable.  Here are some tips on exactly how to prevent gum disease.

What exactly is gum disease?  Also known as periodontal disease (meaning "around the tooth"), this disease is a serious infection that can lead to tooth loss if untreated.  It is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth.  Gum disease can affect one tooth or many teeth.  It begins when the bacteria found in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed.  Gum disease includes diseases such as gingivitis (which is the mildest form of gum disease) and periodontitis (which is the more severe type of gum disease). 

In gingivitis, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily.  The person usually has little to no discomfort.  In fact, you may not even notice that you have gingivitis.  It is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene and is reversible with professional treatment and better oral home care. 

Gingivitis can lead to periodontitis.  This occurs when plaque spreads and grows beneath the gum line.  The bacteria in the plaque then produce toxins that irritate the gums.  The toxins cause a chronic inflammatory response where the body basically turns on itself and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed.  The gums separate from the teeth, forming spaces between the teeth and gums that become infected.  As the disease progresses, the spaces deepen and more and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed.  Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed. 

Are you sufficiently alarmed now? 

The main cause of gum disease is plaque.  There are, however, a few other factors that affect the health of your gums:

    Smoking/tobacco use
    Genetics
    Pregnancy
    Puberty
    Stress
    Medications
    Grinding your teeth
    Diabetes
    Poor nutrition

 In case you are wondering if you have some form of gum disease, here are some of the symptoms.  If you notice any of the following, see your dentist immediately.

    Gums that bleed when you brush your teeth
    Red, swollen or tender gums
    Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
    Bad breath that never goes away
    Pus between your teeth and gums
    Loose teeth
    A change in the way your teeth fit together

There is good news, however!  You can prevent gum disease by taking good care of your teeth every day and having regular dental checkups.  Here's how to keep your teeth healthy at home:

1.    Brush your teeth well twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and ADA approved toothpaste
2.    Clean between your teeth everyday (yes, this means you need to floss everyday)
3.    Eat a balanced diet from the basic food groups, limiting between-meal snacks
4.    Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleaning

If you are able to follow those simple 4 steps, your chances of getting gum disease are much lower. 

We are facing an increasing problem in our country.  People are not taking care of their bodies and as a result more people are suffering from the physical consequences.  One such thing that we are becoming particularly susceptible to is bone loss. Often times people forget that teeth are part of the bone that becomes effected.  Not only is a poor diet to blame for bone loss, but the deficiency in calcium and other vital nutrients is weakening your teeth as well. 

Many people are aware of some of the things that they can do to prevent bone loss but instead, for whatever reason, choose not to.  Tips to preventing bone loss are listed a little later in this article.  Perhaps instead of starting up new good habits, we should focus on breaking old bad habits.  There are foods and activities that reduce the calcium in our bones and the bone density itself.  Some of the things we should stop doing in order to prevent bone loss are:
    Stop drinking excessive amounts of caffeine-containing drinks (more than six drinks per day).  Caffeinated drinks include coffee, cola, many energy drinks and tea.
    Stop consuming excessive amounts of alcohol
    Watch your body weight.  Those with very low body weight are more susceptible to bone loss.
    Always in moderation.  Do not eat so much of a good thing that it become a bad thing.  For example very high intakes of fiber (more than 50g per day, from wheat bran) can attribute to bone loss.
    Stop being a couch potato.  Low levels of physical activity will compromise bone strength.
    Don't be overly paranoid about sun exposure.  Yes, you should still make sure to wear a hat and sun block if you are going to the beach. But did you know that your body needs a certain level of Vitamin D that is absorbed by the body through sunlight?  Low levels of vitamin D are commonly an issue for people who are housebound or for people who cover their bodies completely when they are outside.
After you have read what not to do, of course you are curious about what things that you can do to prevent bone loss.  A great deal of what you should do to prevent bone loss is related to your diet.  Below is a list of recommended foods and quantities needed to prevent bone loss.

Milk and milk products
Milk, yoghurt, cheese and buttermilk are huge sources of calcium. One cup of milk, a 200g tub of yoghurt or 200ml of calcium fortified soymilk provides around 300mg calcium. Calcium fortified milks can provide larger amounts of calcium in a smaller volume of milk for those who may not be enthusiastic milk drinkers.

Leafy green vegetables
Broccoli, collards, bok choy, Chinese cabbage and spinach are reccommended. One cup of cooked spinach contains 100mg, although only five per cent of this may be absorbed. By contrast, one cup of cooked broccoli contains about 45mg of calcium.  In addition, the absorption from broccoli is much higher than its leafier counterparts.

Soy and tofu
Tofu (depending on type) or tempeh and calcium fortified soy drinks are great options.

Fish
Sardines and salmon have more calcium than you may think.  Half a cup of canned salmon contains 402mg of calcium!

Nuts and seeds
Brazil nuts, almonds and sesame seed paste have good amounts of calcium in fact, fifteen almonds contain about 40mg of calcium.

Other calcium fortified foods
Breakfast cereals, fruit juices and bread as well as calcium supplements are more options to get you the calcium that you need to maintain adequate bone health.  Supplements are not as good as getting the calcium you need from foods, but for those who cannot stomach certain calcium rich foods or who would otherwise not get the calcium they need, supplements are a good option.