Bacteria hide in places where brushing and even flossing can’t reach. That’s why it’s important to also use an antiseptic mouthwash to complete your oral care routine.
A 3-Step Oral Care Routine: Brushing, Flossing & Rinsing
A 3-STEP ORAL CARE ROUTINE: BRUSHING, FLOSSING AND RINSING WITH MOUTHWASH
PLAQUE BIOFILM GROWTH
Plaque biofilm is a thin, sticky substance that builds up on your teeth each day. It starts within minutes of brushing and doubles every couple of hours. If tooth or dental plaque is not removed, it can compromise your oral health.
The image shows plaque biofilm from the mouth beginning to appear within minutes of brushing. On the right, microbes have formed a colony within days.
LEGAL/SOURCES Marsh PD, Martin MV, Lewis MAO, Williams DW. Dental plaque. Oral Microbiology E-Book, Fifth edition. London: Churchill Livingstone; 2009:74-102.
BRUSHING YOUR TEETH MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
If you aren’t brushing and flossing for as long or as frequently as needed to keep plaque under control you may develop gingivitis or cavities or both.
USE A MOUTHWASH RINSE
For a complete WHOLE MOUTH CLEAN feeling, rinse with mouthwash. In just 30 seconds, a mouthwash from our Listerine® Antiseptic collection can penetrate deep into plaque biofilm to kill the bacteria that remain after brushing and flossing.
When you add a mouthwash such as LISTERINE® Antiseptic Cool Mint® to your oral care routine, you can reduce plaque and gingivitis compared to brushing and flossing alone. In fact studies show a 52% greater plaque reduction after 6 months when adding a mouthwash to brushing and flossing1, and 21% greater gingivitis reduction compared to just brushing and flossing.1-3
1 .Sharma N, Charles CH, Lynch MC, et al. Adjunctive benefit of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly: a six-month study. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004;135(4):496-504.
2. Charles CH, Mostler KM, Bartels LL, Mankodi SM. Comparative antiplaque and antigingivitis effectiveness of a chlorhexidine and an essential oil mouthrinse: 6-month clinical trial. J Clin Periodontol. 2004;31(10):878-884.
3. Lisante TA, Charles C, Qaqish J, Sharma N, Junker L. Efficacy of brush, floss, rinse regiments vs mechanical oral hygiene. Presented at: 86th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research; March 16-19, 2011; San Diego CA.
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