We trust our dentists to recommend the best mouthwash for our oral care. Sometimes they recommend just what we need and other times, well, let’s just say they can miss the mark too. Aside from our dentists, our morning/nightly routines are our first line of defense against gingivitis and cavities which includes brushing our teeth, flossing, and yes, using mouthwash and thus refraining from drinking or eating anything for an hour afterward.
Not every mouthwash is made equal however, and some can actually be downright detrimental for your overall health due to harsh chemicals and the extensive use of alcohol! Now, what if I told you there was an alternative, natural method which has been gaining traction and has been consumed for ages with only beneficial health effects? This new mouthwash of choice is, share if you guessed it, green tea!
Many popular mouthwash brands contain alcohol and other harmful chemicals!
According to the Dental Journal of Australia, sufficient evidence shows that alcohol in mouthwash is linked to increased risk of oral, neck, and head cancers. Additionally, alcohol dries out the salivary and mucous glands in your mouth resulting in bad breath.
The mere presence of Chlorhexidine can kill good bacteria in your body that is responsible for relaxing blood vessels, says the journal of Free Radical Biology and Medicine in a study about mouthwash use. Therefore Chlorhexidine can increase your blood pressure and even lead to more serious cardiovascular diseases!
Also avoid these carcinogenic and or inflammatory chemicals!
- Hexetidine (oraldene)
- Methyl Salicylate
- Methylparaben
Green Tea is a completely natural, safe alternative which is gaining traction in the dental community!
Although it seems a little bizarre to be using a tea as a mouthwash, rather than something with multiple “dentist’s approval” labels on the front, green tea has been garnering research that shows it may be just as If not more effective at plaque removal then other mouthwashes!
A study recently conducted in Egypt tested participants before they rinsed with green tea and after, and after the participants had less bacteria and acid in their mouths, as well as reduced gum bleeding!
Green tea appears to contain compounds that fight bacterial infection and reduce inflammation therefore green tea may be useful in the prevention of tooth decay, and we all know how green tea is packed with anti-oxidants! Simply bacteria, which builds into plaque when left too long and then tartar when never brushed off, is inhibited by green tea!
The University of British Columbia’s faculty of Dentistry had tested subjects’ breath in a study and found that those who used green tea had significantly fewer bad breath microbes, even topping the results that were taken with the use of mint and parsley!
Green tea definitely will not harm you, therefore why not give green tea mouthwash a try and discover for yourself just how effective green tea mouthwash can be! After all, there is no need to change your brushing or flossing habits, mouth washing is simply the preventative final step in the oral hygienic routine, and if you can help yourself in the long run by avoiding toxic and lethal chemicals, that is a great deal!
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