Not All Mouthwashes Are Created Equal
MANY FILIPINOS AVOID using mouthwash. The primary reason is that they don’t like the stinging sensation usually associated with it. In the earlier days when the only mouthwashes available contained alcohol, this was really a problem. Today, however, consumers have an alternative that is effective, safe and does not cause pain.
Len Santos-Ding, who is a chef by profession, was not aware that an alternative of this kind was readily available, so she kept on using her old, alcohol-based mouthwash. For her it was a necessary, painful experience she had to endure everyday.
During the course of her day, she needs to do a number of food tastings. That, added with her preference for spicy Thai and Indian food, provides a lot of opportunities for strong mouth odors.
“When you love spicy food and work in the kitchen like I do, you have to taste many different kinds of food, which are all seasoned and spiced. Brushing three times a day isn’t enough. In my case, I really need to use mouthwash. But using my old mouthwash was a very uncomfortable experience.
“It wasn’t just the pain that was uncomfortable. My old mouthwash had a strong aftertaste that remained in my mouth long after I’ve left the house for work. The strong minty taste made me believe I had fresh breath, but I never knew that all it did was mask the odor. I’m so happy I switched to OraCare because it gets rid of the true source of strong odor without the overpowering minty taste and sting. This means why I can gargle with it as often as I want.” she said.
Gargling with a mouthwash is a quick and convenient way of keeping your breath fresh. But to do that, you need to choose the right kind of mouthwash. It is important to note that mouthwash products differ in ways of accomplishing this task. There are different kinds of mouthwash in the market today: those that eliminate strong mouth odors by killing odor-causing bacteria and neutralizing the volatile sulfur compounds, and those that only temporarily freshen breath by masking the foul odor with strong flavors and scents.
OraCare, a mouthwash that uses Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide, a known oxidizing agent, removes the true source of strong mouth odors—anaerobic bacteria and volatile sulfur compounds. Because it contains no alcohol and strong flavors, it doesn’t sting and has no strong, unpleasant aftertaste. This makes every gargling experience pleasurable.
OraCare's Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide formulation doesn’t just mask mouth odor; it kills the bad bacteria and neutralizes the volatile sulfur compounds responsible for bad breath. These bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they thrive in the absence of oxygen. OraCare does the job by releasing oxygen to effectively get rid of the odor-causing bacteria so you get real clean, fresh breath that lasts for hours.
We already know that alcohol-based mouthwashes can be a pain to use because of the stinging sensation they cause. Because of this, people tend to either gargle for a shorter amount of time than what is ideal, or dilute the mouthwash with water—both of which reduce the effectiveness of the mouthwash.
Consequently, the alcohol present in these types of mouthwashes has a lesser-known side effect: they have a drying effect on the mouth, which actually encourages the growth of odor-causing bacteria. In effect, using alcohol to wash your mouth also gives bad bacteria a chance to make a comeback and cause bad breath all over again.
Product manager Mark Leviste knows all about this drying effect. “Can you imagine having a dry mouth as you leave the house in the morning? It’s uncomfortable. When I learned that my mouthwash was causing it, I saw it as yet another discomfort I had to endure just to keep my breath fresh,” said Mark
Now that Mark uses OraCare, he no longer has to endure any of the discomforts brought about by his old mouthwash. “I’m happier now with OraCare, because it has made my gargling a more pleasant experience,” he says.
Generally, a mouthwash should be used after brushing your teeth. When using OraCare Mouthrinse, gargle about 15ml within 60 seconds before spitting it out. If possible, do not eat or drink for around half an hour after gargling, to let the mouthwash do its work more effectively.
If you want fresh breath, healthy teeth and gums, and complete oral care without the stinging sensation, the smarter choice is OraCare Mouthrinse (in Regular and Cool flavors) and OraCare Toothpaste—both are available in leading supermarkets and drug stores nationwide.