David Lorich, 40, of Buffalo keeps a strict dental routine. He brushes three times a day, flosses regularly and, once daily, uses an antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds. He says the rinse is a quick step that complements brushing and flossing.
Lorich’s habits reflect a growing push by the American Dental Association to promote antimicrobial rinses. The ADA says clinical studies show such mouthwashes can prevent gingivitis, the gum inflammation caused by plaque buildup along the gum line.
Cliff Whall, director of the ADA Seal of Acceptance program, said the association believes adding “rinse” to the familiar “brush and floss” message would benefit many people.
Dozens of antimicrobial products, including Listerine and the prescription chlorhexidine rinse Peridex, have carried the ADA seal for about two decades. Several fluoride-containing rinses have also earned the endorsement.
The ADA hopes greater public awareness will put rinsing on par with brushing and flossing as a routine preventive step.
For consumers, the organization advises choosing rinses approved by the ADA Seal of Acceptance and following product instructions, especially for prescription-strength formulas.
For people like Lorich, the daily rinse is now a simple, accepted part of oral care — and, he jokes, one his dental-hygienist wife appreciates before a kiss.
