May 28, 2007 — David Lorich of Buffalo, N.Y., takes his dental care seriously. Some might even call it a passion.
Since his braces were removed in high school, the 40-year-old has brushed his teeth three times a day. When he learned that flossing could improve his dental health, he added that to his routine.
It is perhaps no surprise that he married a dental hygienist.
“It works out well,” Lorich says. “She doesn’t like kissing me if I have dirty teeth.”
But Lorich takes another step for his oral health that has not yet been widely emphasized in American Dental Association (ADA) guidelines. He rinses with an antibacterial mouthwash once a day.
“You only have to rinse for 30 seconds,” he explains. “Brushing takes longer than rinsing.”
Though mouth rinsing has not yet achieved the same recognition as brushing and flossing, recent moves by the ADA suggest that more Americans could benefit from following Lorich’s example.
For years, dentists primarily told patients to brush their teeth twice a day. More recently, the ADA has expanded the advice to include flossing. Now, experts are considering adding rinsing to the daily dental routine.
Cliff Whall, director of the ADA Seal of Acceptance program, says antimicrobial mouthwashes have been shown in clinical studies to prevent gingivitis, a gum inflammation caused by plaque buildup.
“Adding ‘rinse’ to the mantra would probably be a good move for most people,” Whall says.
Dozens of antimicrobial mouthwashes, including Listerine and the prescription rinse Peridex (also called chlorhexidine), have carried the ADA Seal of Acceptance for over 20 years. Many fluoride-containing rinses, which help strengthen teeth, have earned the seal as well.
“The council concluded that sharing more information would be beneficial,” Whall says. “The message hasn’t reached the public as much as it has with fluoride toothpaste.”